Ecological engineering, defined as the design of sustainable ecosystems that integrate human society with its natural environment for the benefit of both. Its goals include the restoration of ecosystems that have been substantially disturbed by human activities and the development of new sustainable ecosystems that have both human and ecological values.

Source: Mitsch, W.J. (2012) ‘What is ecological engineering?’, Ecological Engineering, 45, doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.04.013.