A Review of the Roots of Ecological Engineering and its Principles

The wide definition of ecological engineering, a vast, multidisciplinary field, is the application and theoretical understanding of scientific and technical disciplines to protect natural habitats, as well as man-made and natural resources. The following two ideas are central themes in ecological engineering: 1) restoring substantially disturbed ecosystems as a result of anthropogenic activities and pollution, and 2) the synthesis of sustainable ecosystems that have ecological and human value by heavily relying on the self-organization capabilities of a system. Given the current paradigm of anthropogenic disturbances, the ideas and approaches of ecological engineering will be key in the creation of ecosystem resilience, eco-cities, and urban spaces. This review aims to discuss the roots of this discipline, draw comparisons to similar fields, including restoration ecology and environmental engineering, and offer a discourse of its basic principles with relevant examples from the literature. The aim is to bridge the gap between ideas such as energy signature, self-organization, and pre-adaptation to sustainable business and circular economy for a future that combines the natural environment with human society for the mutual benefit of both.