Course:RES510/Template

Introduction

Provide a clear framework or theory in which to place your case study, including both how and why land became unproductive (or less productive), and how/why rehabilitation or restoration occurred.

Background

A succinct description of primary details of the site which could include historical context, ecological/ biophysical and/or engineering issues and dynamics, major users, human interests, threats and pressures–local and non-local, governance structure of relevant region or government/ state, as pertains to the the loss or diminishment of productivity and (briefly) how people (farmers, civic society, government) have responded to that failure.

As part of the important context to be described, it may be relevant to highlight and explain any major points of scientific or social controversy, and relevant law or policy prescriptions (e.g., food safety policies, environmental laws, national endangered species legislation, etc.) that contribute to or affect the outcomes. Other important contextual information could include local or national income, wages, livelihoods, or socio-cultural dynamics such as war, famine, pandemic, political crisis, social movement….

Core Analysis

A longer section (which you can divide into sub-sections) that thoroughly describes the rehabilitation or restoration that took place/is taking place.  What changes were made in response? What are the positive and negative consequences for environment? For people?  Are there winners and losers?  Were there barriers?  How were they overcome?  What factors facilitated the process?  Can these actions be scaled up or are they entirely specific to this case?  Draw upon (and cite) class material to assist in this analysis; you may also draw upon other literatures outside of these readings.  Include an evaluation of the evidence that you’ve been able to muster – how robust is the evidence that you have or rehabilitation or restoration and its effectiveness?

In your assessment, pay special attention to social-ecological interactions and feedbacks (including ecosystem and biophysical processes by which change may trigger social change/consequences and vice versa; also including interactions and feedbacks that may be purely social or ecological). Identify any such interactions that may have been overlooked in management, policy, or discourse, especially from the perspective of decision-makers at national or international levels.

Conclusions

Based on your study, what lessons can be learned to apply elsewhere?  Or, if not relevant or applicable elsewhere, what recommendations can you make for this specific case as to what changes in policy, management and/or governance were most important or should now occur?  What type(s) of evidence are needed to assess if restoration or rehabilitation has occurred and its effectiveness, and are these evidences being gathered?   Feel free to use recommendations from your sources, but if so, acknowledge sources comprehensively, and limit to at most five total points.

Appendix

As needed

This resource was created by RES510.