Restoration, reconciliation, and reconnecting with nature nearby

Biotic homogenization is in many ways a function of spatial and temporal scale. Another aspect of this phenomenon that perhaps receives somewhat less attention is related to “the scale of human experience”, particularly in the way that people view homogenization. Here, I examine the relationship between scale and efforts to reverse the loss of native species using two case studies in the Midwestern U.S. Both of these are focused on the restoration of prairie, one in a rapidly urbanizing area and one in a rural context. At a large reserve in a rural area, it is possible to restore prairie at a scale that is sufficient to accommodate populations of grassland obligate birds. This is an unrealistic goal, however, for small reserves in the midst of suburban development and rapidly escalating land prices. Small reserves in this context may be suitable for taxa with smaller habitat requirements, but also have a vital role in reversing biotic homogenization by enabling people to experience nature directly. Not only does this improve their quality of life, but may also foster support for efforts to maintain biodiversity in more remote locations. Thus, the goals of conservation and ecological restoration at various points on the land-use gradient are somewhat different but complementary and inter-related. Conservation scientists have an obvious role in the restoration and management of large reserves, but they also have an important part to play in restoring and maintaining elements of biodiversity in cities and suburbs.