Protecting biodiversity and reducing the consequences of climate change need a natural system's capacity to absorb change, restructure itself, and adapt to a new environment.
To paraphrase Albert Einstein, "the only thing that is permanent is change,” and although it may be difficult to see the ongoing transformations taking place in our own communities and the environments in which we live, change is the one constant. In addition, the kind of change varies; it might be slow and steady, or it can come on strongly and unexpectedly. To address these challenges, we need to adopt a more resilient approach to our environment.
An explanation of ecological resilience
The capacity of a natural system to absorb the consequences of change, restructure itself, and adapt to the new environment while basically keeping its prior structure and functions is what is meant by "ecological resilience," which has many different meanings depending on the context:
The capacity to adapt to new circumstances with little or no alteration to the underlying structure.
Likewise, the criteria we use to evaluate resilience vary: some focus on how much external disruption a system can withstand, while others examine how long it takes for the system to recover to its former equilibrium.
Where this idea came from and where it has been thus far
The word "resilience" was first used in the 19th century by materials scientists; the notion was slowly adopted by other disciplines, most notably psychology, over the second half of the 20th century. As far as we know, Canadian ecologist Crawford Stanley Holling was the first to discuss ecological resilience in his paper "Resilience and Stability of Ecological Systems," published in the Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics in 1973.
The urgency and scope of environmental challenges, which were only dimly grasped until the last several decades, have made ecological resilience a popular area of study in academia today.
The Resilience Alliance was established in 1999, and the Stockholm Resilience Institute was established in 2007, both as examples of specialized organisations and institutions that have emerged to address this problem. Journals like Ecology and Society are published specifically to further this field of research.
In this context of social and ecological resilience, we tend to talk more widely. This highlights human responsibility for the enormous environmental transition taking place, but which may have detrimental effects on individuals and communities.
The social and human dimensions are implicit even when the shorter phrase "ecological resilience" is employed for the purpose of brevity.
Containing both resiliency and resistance
People sometimes mistake resilience with resistance, although the two are quite different concepts. To better grasp the difference between resistance and resilience, it helps to think of resistance as rigidity and resilience as flexibility. The Latin word resilire, meaning "to bounce back," is the etymological ancestor of the English term "resilient." As a psychological term, "resistance" refers to the inability of an individual to change their views, actions, or routines in the face of challenge.
The resilient individual, on the other hand, is self-aware enough to see flaws and make necessary changes.
In contrast to resistance, resilience involves a propensity to bend without breaking.
Adaptability in the face of hardship, the ability to bend rather than shatter, has surpassed obstinate, unyielding integrity as the most respected attribute in recent years.
In ecology, a resistant ecosystem will sustain little damage from a small wildfire, whereas a resilient one will sustain more significant damage but still be able to recover and revert back to its original condition after a much bigger fire.
When an ecosystem is in a state of equilibrium, there is room for both equilibrium and adaptability
A state of balance is connected to the idea of resilience. In other words, a balanced ecosystem is one that can withstand stress without breaking down. A resilient ecosystem is able to revert to its pre-shock condition after an event has caused a change, much as a ball in a bowl that swiftly returns to its original position after being nudged.
No, in the case of complex systems, equilibrium does not imply a state of stagnation. Everything in an ecosystem is in continual motion. Single creatures (including humans) have offspring, mature, and maybe even migrate, while others perish. Nonetheless, the system as a whole keeps its original form, and its biodiversity is preserved; this is what is meant by equilibrium.
What we mean by "adaptation" here is the process through which an ecosystem returns to stability following a change. After all, adaptability to one's surroundings is a major factor in evolutionary change. Species on Earth have been doing this for as long as we know how to keep them alive and well. As ecosystems have always had to adapt to change, they have evolved over extended periods of time and, in general, have shown extraordinary resilience.
Essential features of stable ecosystems
The inherent strengths of ecosystems allow them to withstand a wide range of stresses.
To begin, let's talk about plant and animal life. One hypothetical fish extinction in a lake with many other fish species would not spell the end of the lake's aquatic life. Like how a forest can weather a protracted drought if it contains multiple tree species, each with its own unique tolerance for water constraint.
Functional redundancy is an element of biodiversity. A wide variety of insects, as well as birds and other animals, are responsible for pollinating flowers. Even if one of these species disappears, the others can keep functioning normally.
The Mediterranean maquis is a very hardy ecosystem. Natural hazards like as severe weather, fires, and landslides have long been a part of life there. Because of its high levels of biodiversity and functional variety, it has gradually evolved an impressive ability to recolonize degraded environments.
Why ecological resilience is crucial for environmental preservation
And yet, ecological resilience is a prerequisite for biodiversity. There are more openings for new species to colonize or return to a resilient environment, whether they be flora, fauna, or microbes.
Ecosystem resilience is a safety net for the environment and the sustainability as a whole. Hence, it's important to reiterate the idea of social-ecological resilience since it also helps human societies be secure and stable.
The prosperity of fishing villages, for instance, is directly tied to the condition of the oceanic ecology. Because bees are so important to agriculture, beekeepers must ensure that the habitat is healthy for insects and plants.
The safety of human populations is directly tied to the state of the planet's ecosystems, which has implications beyond the realm of economics. To provide just one example, forests prevent landslides from destroying communities in the lowlands below mountain ranges.
It's not simply about avoiding hurting people; ecological health has a major impact on human health. One way in which climate change adaptation might help protect against the spread of illness is by creating an ecosystem that can better withstand extreme weather.
Similar to how a healthy environment reduces the risk of zoonoses (diseases that may be transmitted from animals to people), an unbalanced ecosystem can have the opposite effect.
Hence, ecological resilience is intrinsically tied to environmental and social sustainability, and by extension, to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The United Nations has adopted this strategy after being influenced by a research conducted by the Stockholm Resilience Centre and the International Council for Science (ICSU).
Increasing environmental safeguards and bolstering ecological stability
Deforestation, overfishing, and the current climate catastrophe are just a few of the new man-made dangers facing the planet today.
For this reason, it is essential to preserve and improve the socio-ecological resilience of ecosystems, particularly the most vulnerable ones. Humanity has developed formidable destructive capabilities, but it also has a remarkable ability for rebuilding.
Actions and Plans
It's important to focus on numerous different areas at once while doing cleanup:
ecosystem restoration;
adoption of sustainable agriculture techniques, and of course;
the adoption of low-impact technology like renewable energy and electric vehicles.
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