Is native landscaping the same as ecological restoration?
No, though it is closer to ecological restoration than conventional landscaping. The goal of many ecological restoration projects is to return degraded habitats to their natural states, which often, though not always, means to a climax state, wher “climax state” is the theoretical final or “mature” phase of ecological succession and consists of the biotic community that would come to dominate the area if given enough time without major disturbances. In some areas, climax communities can be dominated by only a few species. It must be understood, however, that an ecoregion is not necessarily a biotic community in its climax state, but rather a mosaic of natural land covers in various stages of ecological succession. To include only members of the climax community would exclude taxa that may only be present in earlier successional stages. Because we manage ecological succession in urban landscapes, there is no reason why you cannot, or should not include taxa from all successional stages.
