Ecosystem Restoration and Rewilding

You will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge in planning, implementing, and evaluating ecological restoration, from small-scale species reintroductions to landscape-scale habitat restoration. This course is designed for MSc students in ecology, forestry, environmental science, conservation biology, or related fields who want to gain practical restoration skills for future careers in research, environmental consultancy, or conservation management.

You will learn:

• Foundational concepts of restoration ecology and rewilding.
• Restoration of terrestrial, aquatic and semi-aquatic ecosystems.
• The role of megafauna and keystone species in ecosystem recovery.
• Hands-on approaches: hydrological restoration, deadwood translocation, prescribed burning, rewilding strategies.
• Planning, monitoring and assessing restoration success.

There will be two field visits.

Course leader is Anne-Maarit Hekkala.