1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...

can be achieved cost-effectively using thematic map products to describe the elements of the
landscape, such as the type and impact of land uses adjacent to the site and if historical maps or a
time series is available then an understanding of the historical ecology of the site can be
immensely useful. From a design point of view, landscape ecology can provide insight into
important ecological relationships at scales relevant to restoration decision making. For
example, if restoring mangroves as fish habitat then an optimal location for restoration may
include mangroves that are in close proximity to seagrasses that combine to offer complementary
and supplementary resources thus capable of supporting elevated fish diversity and abundance in
the region (Dunning et al. 1992, Pittman et al. 2007b). Furthermore, restoration site planning that
increases connectivity between degraded fragmented habitats may result in greater benefits in
terms of the persistence and resiliency of restored habitats. Given the uncertainty of climate
change effects, greater attention on ecological processes in site selection will become
increasingly important.
The best methods appear to be those that rely on a scientific understanding of the
requirements (e.g., elevation, hydrology) of species and communities, and what must be done to
a site to make these conditions correct for the intended purpose.
1.10.10.1 Targeting Wetlands for Restoration in North Carolina, USA
Approximately 50 percent of the original wetlands of coastal North Carolina have been
drained and converted primarily to agriculture and other land uses (Hefner and Brown, 1985,
Dahl and Johnson 1991). Continued alteration of wetlands typically results in compensatory
mitigation that usually involves the restoration of former wetlands, creation of new wetlands,
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