Ecological sustainability is an essential piece of the world as we know it. As climate change introduces more challenges for the human race, prioritizing ecological sustainability can help mitigate those challenges. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Ecological Sustainability?
Ecological sustainability is an essential piece of the world as we know it. As climate change introduces more challenges for the human race, prioritizing ecological sustainability can help mitigate those challenges. Here’s what you need to know.
Definition
Ecological sustainability is the functioning of Earth’s systems, working together across all ecosystems to regulate the planet. This includes climate systems, air, water, land, soil, biodiversity (of species and habitat), and ecosystem services (pollination and photosynthesis).
A factor of ecological sustainability depends on the capability of ecosystems to regenerate utilized resources and repair themselves after disturbances or natural disasters. To reach ecological sustainability, the production of goods and services must not ruin ecosystems past their ability to function and recuperate.
Water, air, land, biodiversity, and ecosystem services are all central to ecological sustainability. To reach sustainability, systems should be free of pollutants, protected from erosion, have a controlled climate, and maintain healthy levels of nutrients, salinity, and particulate matter.
Why Is It Important?
Maintaining ecological sustainability is important for the function of systems on the planet. Humans reap countless benefits from the sustainability of the Earth, many of which we could not live without. Clean water, an essential human need, is greatly dependent on nutrient cycling, protection from pollutants, mitigations of drought, etc. All of these factors that breed clean and usable water can be easily disturbed if an ecosystem is not functioning properly, especially for those who rely on well water.
Ecological sustainability also protects the planet from the overuse of resources. Resources like wood, water, and land area for human consumption must be monitored and tracked over time to ensure that humans do not dwindle resources past recovery.
Humans also reap the benefits of environmental sustainability on an intrinsic level, meaning benefits on a spiritual, recreational, and intellectual level. Health benefits of spending time in nature include lower risks for heart disease, increased well-being, lower risks for high blood pressure, and can aid in mental health struggles. Without ecological sustainability, our favorite national parks, wildlife safaris, beaches, or forest hikes would look and function much differently.
Measuring Ecological Sustainability
Ecological sustainability can actually be measured within a given area, like a forest, national park, etc. Most researchers looking to measure the ecological sustainability of an area use the SAFE method or Sustainability Assessment by Fuzzy Evaluation. This method is comprehensive and accounts for various aspects of ecological functioning, including air quality, health, biodiversity, population, water quality, economic welfare, and land integrity, among other indicators.
Case Study: Yellowstone National Park
Ecological sustainability can be hindered or helped by human intervention. A famous case of restoring ecological sustainability can be seen by examining Yellowstone National Park.
Today, wolf populations in Yellowstone are stable and assist the overall ecology of the area. However, prior to 1995, wolves had been eradicated; hunted for furs and to protect agricultural flocks. Ecologists were approved to begin reintroducing wolf populations into the park with the goal of restoring a balance between larger predators and improving the ecological health of the area.
Once reintroduced, some expected and unexpected effects began to unfold. Prior to reintroduction, elk roamed without fear of becoming hunted and were free to over-graze on shrubs and foliage, reducing foliage cover significantly over decades. After wolves were reintroduced and began to hunt the elk, foliage began to grow back, allowing other wildlife species, like hare and amphibians, to reproduce and stabilize.
What researchers found was that wolves were an essential species to the area in order to maintain healthy wildlife populations, foliage cover, and even water flow, minimizing drought risks.
Can Ecological Sustainability Help Climate Change?
Areas that are ecologically sustainable and balanced help to reduce the effects of climate change. Natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, and drought (all of which are becoming more frequent and severe through climate change) are able to be mitigated in areas with higher ecological sustainability. In other words, areas with higher ecological sustainability can protect themselves better against climate change and recover faster if damaged.
Key Takeaways
- Ecological sustainability is the functioning of Earth’s systems, working together across all ecosystems to regulate the planet.
- Ecological sustainability can be measured.
- Ecological sustainability can help protect areas against climate change.
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Ecological sustainability is an essential piece of the world as we know it. As climate change introduces more challenges for the human race, prioritizing ecological sustainability can help mitigate those challenges. Here’s what you need to know.
Definition
Ecological sustainability is the functioning of Earth’s systems, working together across all ecosystems to regulate the planet. This includes climate systems, air, water, land, soil, biodiversity (of species and habitat), and ecosystem services (pollination and photosynthesis).
A factor of ecological sustainability depends on the capability of ecosystems to regenerate utilized resources and repair themselves after disturbances or natural disasters. To reach ecological sustainability, the production of goods and services must not ruin ecosystems past their ability to function and recuperate.
Water, air, land, biodiversity, and ecosystem services are all central to ecological sustainability. To reach sustainability, systems should be free of pollutants, protected from erosion, have a controlled climate, and maintain healthy levels of nutrients, salinity, and particulate matter.
Why is it important?
Maintaining ecological sustainability is important for the function of systems on the planet. Humans reap countless benefits from the sustainability of the Earth, many of which we could not live without. Clean water, an essential human need, is greatly dependent on nutrient cycling, protection from pollutants, mitigations of drought, etc. All of these factors that breed clean and usable water can be easily disturbed if an ecosystem is not functioning properly, especially for those who rely on well water.
Ecological sustainability also protects the planet from the overuse of resources. Resources like wood, water, and land area for human consumption must be monitored and tracked over time to ensure that humans do not dwindle resources past recovery.
Humans also reap the benefits of environmental sustainability on an intrinsic level, meaning benefits on a spiritual, recreational, and intellectual level. Health benefits of spending time in nature include lower risks for heart disease, increased well-being, lower risks for high blood pressure, and can aid in mental health struggles. Without ecological sustainability, our favorite national parks, wildlife safaris, beaches, or forest hikes would look and function much differently.
Measuring ecological sustainability
Ecological sustainability can actually be measured within a given area, like a forest, national park, etc. Most researchers looking to measure the ecological sustainability of an area use the SAFE method or Sustainability Assessment by Fuzzy Evaluation. This method is comprehensive and accounts for various aspects of ecological functioning, including air quality, health, biodiversity, population, water quality, economic welfare, and land integrity, among other indicators.
Case Study: Yellowstone National Park
Ecological sustainability can be hindered or helped by human intervention. A famous case of restoring ecological sustainability can be seen by examining Yellowstone National Park.
Today, wolf populations in Yellowstone are stable and assist the overall ecology of the area. However, prior to 1995, wolves had been eradicated; hunted for furs and to protect agricultural flocks. Ecologists were approved to begin reintroducing wolf populations into the park with the goal of restoring a balance between larger predators and improving the ecological health of the area.
Once reintroduced, some expected and unexpected effects began to unfold. Prior to reintroduction, elk roamed without fear of becoming hunted and were free to over-graze on shrubs and foliage, reducing foliage cover significantly over decades. After wolves were reintroduced and began to hunt the elk, foliage began to grow back, allowing other wildlife species, like hare and amphibians, to reproduce and stabilize.
What researchers found was that wolves were an essential species to the area in order to maintain healthy wildlife populations, foliage cover, and even water flow, minimizing drought risks.
Can ecological sustainability help climate change?
Areas that are ecologically sustainable and balanced help to reduce the effects of climate change. Natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, and drought (all of which are becoming more frequent and severe through climate change) are able to be mitigated in areas with higher ecological sustainability. In other words, areas with higher ecological sustainability can protect themselves better against climate change and recover faster if damaged.
Key Takeaways
- Ecological sustainability is the functioning of Earth’s systems, working together across all ecosystems to regulate the planet.
- Ecological sustainability can be measured.
- Ecological sustainability can help protect areas against climate change.
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