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The Emerging Age of Ecological Restoration Law
Author(s) -
Richardson Benjamin J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
review of european, comparative and international environmental law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 2050-0394
pISSN - 2050-0386
DOI - 10.1111/reel.12165
Subject(s) - restoration ecology , corporate governance , environmental restoration , task (project management) , environmental law , environmental planning , political science , ecology , environmental resource management , business , law , geography , environmental science , economics , biology , management , finance
This article challenges the dominant future orientation of environmental law by drawing attention to the need to consider past environmental losses and the role of restoration law. The article highlights some precedents in international and domestic law. So far, most examples of restoration governance in our legal systems should be described as ‘environmental’ restoration, addressing discrete contexts such as a pollution spill site or a former mine. The larger agenda of ecological restoration is in its infancy, but there are a handful of interesting legal innovations. Successful ecological restoration governance is a complex task that requires addressing four criteria: biological feasibility, social acceptability, financial viability and institutional tractability.