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The term "ecosystem management" has been in use at least since the 1950s. [11] The term "ecosystem health" has become widespread in the ecological literature, as a general metaphor meaning something good, [12] and as an environmental quality goal in field assessments of rivers, [13] lakes, [14] seas, [15] and forests. [16]
Ecological indicators are used to communicate information about ecosystems and the impact human activity has on ecosystems to groups such as the public or government policy makers. Ecosystems are complex and ecological indicators can help describe them in simpler terms that can be understood and used by non-scientists to make management decisions.
Robertson stated, “By ecosystem management, we mean an ecological approach… [that] must blend the needs of people and environmental values in such a way that the National Forests and Grasslands represent diverse, healthy, productive and sustainable ecosystems.” [8] A variety of additional definitions of ecosystem management exist. [7]
Sustainability is a social goal for people to co-exist on Earth over a long period of time. Definitions of this term are disputed and have varied with literature, context, and time. [2] [1] Sustainability usually has three dimensions (or pillars): environmental, economic, and social. [1] Many definitions emphasize the environmental dimension.
Ecosystem collapse has been defined as a "transformation of identity, loss of defining features, and replacement by a novel ecosystem", and involves the loss of "defining biotic or abiotic features", including the ability to sustain the species which used to be associated with that ecosystem. [1] According to another definition, it is "a change ...
An example of ecological stability . In ecology, an ecosystem is said to possess ecological stability (or equilibrium) if it is capable of returning to its equilibrium state after a perturbation (a capacity known as resilience) or does not experience unexpected large changes in its characteristics across time. [1]
Ecologically sustainable development is the environmental component of sustainable development.It can be achieved partially through the use of the precautionary principle; if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.
Ecological threshold is the point at which a relatively small change or disturbance in external conditions causes a rapid change in an ecosystem.When an ecological threshold has been passed, the ecosystem may no longer be able to return to its state by means of its inherent resilience.