What does the term "restoration ecology" encompass in Coastal Louisiana?

The term "restoration ecology" specifically refers to the science and practice of restoring degraded ecosystems back to their natural states and functions. In the context of Coastal Louisiana, this involves the efforts to rehabilitate wetlands and other coastal environments that have been impacted by human activities, such as pollution, development, and climate change. Restoration ecology focuses on understanding the ecological processes and interactions within these systems to facilitate effective restoration efforts, ensuring that ecosystems can provide essential services such as flood protection, habitat for wildlife, and water quality improvement.

While the conservation of existing wetlands is an important aspect of environmental management, it does not fully capture the proactive nature of restoration ecology, which seeks to restore function and ecological integrity to environments that have been compromised. Similarly, urban development and agricultural land management do not align with the principles of restoring natural ecosystems, as they often prioritize human use and economic gains over ecological restoration efforts.