Restoration of Ecosystems – Bridging Nature and Humans

Stefan Zerbe is a landscape ecologist and teaches and researches at the Free University of Bozen in South Tyrol. He is particularly interested in restoration ecology and building interdisciplinary bridges between the natural and social sciences. Against this background, he has also designed and managed two international master’s degree programs. Numerous regional as well as international and interdisciplinary research projects and collaborations on a national and international level have resulted in over 250 scientific publications, book chapters and monographs. Both basic research and practical aspects of ecosystem restoration form a focus.

• Introduction to Restoration Ecology - Which habitat should be restored? Reference ecosystems for restoration.- Measures for ecosystem restoration.- Reintroduction of plant and animal species.- For dealing with non-native species in ecosystem restoration.- Monitoring and success control.- Forests.- Moors.- Subalpine and alpine grasslands.- Running waters.- Natural and anthropogenic still waters - Ecosystems and types of use influenced by salt - Marine habitats in the North Sea and Baltic Sea - Heath in the lowlands and mountains - Meadows and pastures in mesophilic, moist and calcareous locations - Lean or dry sand grasslands of the coasts and des Inland areas - Fields - Traditional agroforestry systems - Urban ecosystems - Mining or open pit sites and landfills.