Glossary E
Deutsch: Ökosystem / Español: Ecosistema / Português: Ecossistema / Français: Écosystème / Italiano: Ecosistema /
An ecosystem is an interconnected and symbiotic grouping of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms.
Deutsch: Ökosystemdegradation / Español: Degradación del ecosistema / Português: Degradação do ecossistema / Français: Dégradation des écosystèmes / Italiano: Degradazione dell'ecosistema
Ecosystem Degradation refers to the progressive deterioration of the structure, function, and biodiversity of an ecosystem, often resulting from human activities or natural disturbances. This process undermines the ecosystem's ability to provide essential services, such as carbon sequestration, water purification, and habitat provision, which are critical for both environmental stability and human well-being. Unlike temporary disruptions, ecosystem degradation implies long-term, often irreversible changes that compromise ecological resilience.
Deutsch: Störung des Ökosystems / Español: perturbación del ecosistema / Português: perturbação do ecossistema / Français: perturbation de l'écosystème / Italiano: distruzione dell'ecosistema
Ecosystem disruption in the environmental context refers to significant changes to an ecosystem that adversely affect its structure, function, and the services it provides. These disruptions can be caused by natural events such as volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and hurricanes, or by human activities such as deforestation, pollution, urban development, and the introduction of invasive species.
Deutsch: Rückkopplung des Ökosystems / Español: retroalimentación del ecosistema / Português: retroalimentação do ecossistema / Français: rétroaction de l'écosystème / Italiano: retroazione dell'ecosistema
Ecosystem feedback in the environmental context refers to the responses within an ecosystem that either amplify or dampen the effects of environmental changes. These feedback mechanisms are critical for understanding how ecosystems adapt to various internal and external pressures, including climate change, pollution, and land-use changes.
Deutsch: Ökosystemgesundheit / Español: Salud del ecosistema / Português: Saúde do ecossistema / Français: Santé des écosystèmes / Italiano: Salute dell'ecosistema
Ecosystem Health refers to the capacity of an ecosystem to maintain its structure, function, and resilience over time while supporting biodiversity and providing ecosystem services. It integrates ecological, social, and economic dimensions, emphasizing the dynamic balance between human activities and natural processes. The concept serves as a diagnostic tool for assessing environmental sustainability and guiding conservation efforts.
Deutsch: Ökosystemrestaurierung / Español: Restauración de ecosistemas / Português: Restauração de ecossistemas / Français: Restauration des écosystèmes / Italiano: Ripristino degli ecosistemi
Ecosystem restoration refers to the process of assisting the recovery and rehabilitation of ecosystems that have been degraded, damaged, or destroyed due to human activity or natural events. It involves a wide range of practices aimed at restoring the health, biodiversity, and functionality of ecosystems, with the goal of bringing them back to their natural state or improving their resilience against future environmental pressures.
Deutsch: Ökosystemleistungen, Español: Servicios Ecosistémicos, Português: Serviços Ecossistêmicos, Français: Services Écosystémiques, Italiano: Servizi Ecosistemici
Ecosystem Services in the environmental context are the direct and indirect benefits that humans derive from the natural functioning of ecosystems. They are the essential life-support systems of the planet, often provided for free by healthy natural environments, which are critical for human survival, well-being, and economic activity.