Environmental change can make an ecosystem more stable.

Ecosystems are dynamic systems that are constantly changing. However, they also have a natural ability to resist and recover from disturbances, such as fires, floods, and droughts. This ability to resist and recover is known as ecosystem resilience.

Biodiversity is one of the key factors that contribute to ecosystem resilience. When an ecosystem is biodiverse, it has a wider range of species and functional groups of species. This means that there are more different ways for the ecosystem to respond to disturbances.

For example, if a forest ecosystem is biodiverse, it may have a variety of different tree species with different tolerances to fire. When a fire occurs, some tree species may be killed, but others will survive. This allows the forest to recover from the fire and maintain its overall health.

However, if a forest ecosystem is not biodiverse, and it is dominated by a single tree species, then a fire can kill off a large proportion of the trees. This can make it difficult for the forest to recover and can lead to ecosystem collapse.

Biodiversity loss can affect sustainable development.

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Biodiversity is essential for sustainable development because it provides us with a wide range of ecosystem services, such as food, water, clean air, and climate regulation.

Biodiversity loss can threaten sustainable development by reducing the availability of ecosystem services. For example, if pollinators are lost, then crop yields will decline. This can lead to food insecurity and malnutrition.

Biodiversity loss can also make us more vulnerable to climate change. Ecosystems that are biodiverse are more resilient to climate change than ecosystems that are not biodiverse.

Examples of environmental changes that can make an ecosystem more stable:

• Reforestation: Reforestation can help to restore biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in degraded forests.
• Wetland restoration: Wetland restoration can help to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and provide habitat for a variety of wildlife.
• Reduced pollution: Reducing pollution can help to improve the health of ecosystems and make them more resilient to disturbances.

Examples of how biodiversity loss can affect sustainable development:

• Loss of pollinators: The loss of pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, can lead to a decline in crop yields and food insecurity.
• Loss of fish stocks: The overfishing of fish stocks can lead to the collapse of fisheries and economic hardship for coastal communities.
• Deforestation: Deforestation can lead to soil erosion, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. This can make it difficult to grow crops and raise livestock, and can lead to poverty and hunger.

Overall, environmental change can make an ecosystem more stable or less stable, depending on the nature of the change. Biodiversity loss can also make an ecosystem less stable and more vulnerable to disturbances. Biodiversity is also essential for sustainable development, so biodiversity loss can have a negative impact on sustainable development goals.

Dr Murtadha Shukur thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Overall, environmental change can make an ecosystem more stable or less stable, depending on the nature of the change. Biodiversity loss can also make an ecosystem less stable and more vulnerable to disturbances. Ecosystems are dynamic systems that are constantly changing. However, they also have a natural ability to resist and recover from disturbances, such as fires, floods, and droughts. This ability to resist and recover is known as ecosystem resilience. Ecosystem stability is the ability of an ecosystem to maintain a steady state, even after a stress or disturbance has occurred. In order for an ecosystem to be considered stable, it needs to have mechanisms in place that help it return to its original state after a disturbance occurs. On land, higher temperatures have forced animals and plants to move to higher elevations or higher latitudes, many moving towards the Earth's poles, with far-reaching consequences for ecosystems. The risk of species extinction increases with every degree of warming. As biodiversity is lost, there is a risk that some thresholds will be passed, undermining the functioning of the earth system. Conversely, the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity contributes to sustainable development and mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Biodiversity is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth, including humans. Without a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, we cannot have the healthy ecosystems that we rely on to provide us with the air we breathe and the food we eat. And people also value nature of it. Declining biodiversity lowers an ecosystem's productivity (the amount of food energy that is converted into the biomass) and lowers the quality of the ecosystem's services (which often include maintaining the soil, purifying water that runs through it, and supplying food and shade, etc.). There are various factors that affect biodiversity. Biodiversity loss is caused by habitat loss, invading species, overfishing, pollution, and climate change associated with global warming. In any case, people and their activities play a direct role. The loss of biodiversity among these critical natural resources threatens global food security and the development of new pharmaceuticals to deal with future diseases. Simplified, homogenized ecosystems can also represent an aesthetic loss. Biodiversity conservation and sustainable development are two inter-related branches focusing on social progress, economic growth and environmental protection on one side, and ecosystem conservation on the other.