BIO402 River Restoration and Protection (8)

This subject focuses on the theoretical and practical frameworks that underpin the restoration of riverine environments following disturbance. As such it is assumed students undertaking this subject already have a good knowledge of river geomorphology and ecology. The ecology of restoration covers the following specialised areas of knowledge: principles of restoration ecology; decision analysis in deciding recovery goals; restoration constraints; methodologies and techniques, monitoring, and criteria for determining the degree of recovery and relevance assessment. During the residential school students visit a range of field sites where restoration works have been undertaken. Students completing this subject have the knowledge and skills needed to make sound judgments regarding the recovery goals for a river and have an ability to critically assess existing or planned restoration efforts.

Availability

* Offering has a residential school. Please view following information for further details.

Session 2 (60)
Online *
Albury-Wodonga Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: BIO402. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Environmental Sciences

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • have a broad understanding of the key ecological principles on which successful restoration projects must be based
  • have a broad and coherent understanding of the current state of riverine ecosystems in Australia and understand the causes and nature of degradation processes in riparian systems and floodplains
  • be able to use specialised skills to develop monitoring criteria and systems for determining rate and degree of recovery
  • be able to make sound independent judgments regarding the prioritisation of river restoration works in Australia
  • be able to reflect critically on case histories
  • be able to critically assess restoration works in the light of technical, social and legal constraints and problems of cost and timing
  • be able to review, consolidate, and synthesize knowledge in order to make sound independent judgments for deciding recovery goals, in the light of restoration constraints and available restoration methodologies and techniques

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:

Restoration ecology theory;

  1. River degradation issues;
  2. Current state of riverine ecosystems in Australia;
  3. Institutional arrangements and community engagement in restoration projects;
  4. Evaluation of tools for prioritisation of restoration projects including the 12-step process for rehabilitating Australian streams;
  5. In-channel and riparian intervention tools;
  6. Monitoring and evaluation of restoration projects.

Indicative Assessment

The following table summarises the assessment tasks for the online offering of BIO402 in Session 2 2020. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated and can also differ to suit the mode of study (online or on campus).

Item Number
Title
Value %
1
Article on a river or wetland restoration project
20
2
Seminar presentation
10
3
Evaluation of a restoration project
40
4
Final exam
30

Residential School

This subject contains a 3 day Compulsory Residential School.

During the residential school students visit a range of field sites where restoration works have been undertaken and developing an ability to make sound independent judgmentsabout  recovery goals, in the light of restoration constraints and available restoration methodologies and techniques.

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: May 2021. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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