Abstract

There are three main trends of restoration ecology study, based on the international restoration ecology conferences hold on the past five years. Firstly, current restoration ecology study highlights the integration between natural restoration and social culture. Ecological restoration is a global study and practice. It needs the support of not only natural science study but also social, economic and cultural development. Secondly, restoration ecology study emphasizes the integration both in physical area and in theory. The efficient restoration needs the cooperation of several regions, even nations in a region, and the integration of different disciplines in science. Thirdly, the process and result of ecological restoration must be expressed in landscape with ecosystem as a standpoint. More and more emphasis of ecological restoration study was put on ecosystem and landscape scales, with the globalization of environmental and economic problems. Finally, effect of ecosystem edge on ecological restoration has become a new key point in this field.
Based on the analysis of current trends, 6 hot topics of restoration ecology were given out: the study of the theory framework of restoration ecology; the assessment study of the ecosystem service of restored ecosystem; the role of biodiversity in restoration; the reaction between restoration and global change; the role of law in restoration and the integration study of restoration, economy and society.
The restoration and reconstruction of an ecosystem is a complex system engineering, especially needing the direction of ecological theory. Most of ecological theories have been widely used in the study and practice of restoration. With a case study, the application of succession theory in cological restoration and the restoration process and method of subtropical forest and wetland were highlighted.

Speaker

Dr. Peng Shao Lin, full professor of Zhong Shan University, Guangzhou has earned his Ph.D. in 1989, now is Director of Research Institute of Ecology and Evolution in Zhong Shan University. He has many academic titles in ecological society of China such as Director of China’s Ecological Society, Chief Editor of Chinese Academic Journals of Ecology, Ecological Science and Tropic Botany, Chief Scientist of South China Institute of Botany, etc. Under his guidance, 18 Ph.D. students have passed the thesis defense and got their Ph.D. Now he is instructing 16 Ph.D. students in their thesis studies.