Definition Of Ecological Integrity

There is more than one way to define ecological integrity.

Definition of ecological integrity. Ecological integrity ecological or biological integrity originated as an ethical concept in the wake of aldo leopold 1949 and has been present in the law both domestic and international and part of public policy since its appearance in the 1972 u s. History of ecological integrity the concept of ecological integrity was introduced by aldo leopold leopold 1949 who stated that a thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity stability and beauty of the biotic community it is wrong when it tends otherwise. It must be able to distinguish between an ecosystem that is subjected to anthropogenic pressures but adapted to the new normal and another one that is not coping well with these changes. A living system exhibits integrity if when subjected to disturbance it sustains and organizes self correcting ability to recover toward a biomass end state that is normal for that system.

End states other than the pristine or naturally whole may be accepted as normal and good. At present market policy and institutional incentives interact in ways that at present market policy and institutional incentives interact in ways that weaken the region s ecological integrity endanger the wildlife tourism industry and threaten the long term viability of rural households. Definition of ecological integrity a living system exhibits integrity if when subjected to disturbance it sustains and organizes self correcting ability to recover toward a biomass end state that is normal for that system. Keys to a usable definition of level 2 ecological integrity the first criteria that any measure of level 2 ecological integrity must fulfil is to account for the level 1 integrity of the ecosystem.

A few different definitions follow. This can affect the health and wellbeing of communities impact the economy and cause plants and animals to become locally extinct. The goals that it influences are food provision fishing artisanal fishing opportunity natural products sense of place iconic species and biodiversity all subgoals except species. Ecological integrity is a resilience measure used in calculating scores for five of the goals.

These perspectives allow a deeper understanding known as two eyed seeing because ecosystems are constantly changing conservation strategies should maintain or restore key ecological processes that reflect their natural condition. Ecological integrity should be assessed using science and indigenous knowledge. When ecological integrity is compromised the diversity of life becomes vulnerable and the ability of ecosystems to provide goods and services like clean air and water is compromised. Clean water act cwa.