More consideration should be given to animals in ecosystem restoration assessments and a new CDU study shows how this can be done.
According to CDU Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods ecologist and lead author of the study, Professor Alan Andersen, specific standards are required for assessing how well animal communities have been restored.
“It is important to include a wide variety of animals, not just because of their intrinsic biodiversity value but also because of the many ecological roles they play in restoration processes.
However, up until now there has been no framework for doing this.”
But Professor Andersen said the assessment framework can be applied to any ecosystem worldwide.
“Specific standards of evaluating returning animal populations can be set to suit any level of restoration, no matter where it is,” he said.