What is environmental vulnerability

Environmental vulnerability refers to Degree of resistance of a system, subsystem or component of a system in the face of the two great environmental problems that are taking place throughout the planet: global warming and loss of biodiversity. Both caused directly or indirectly by anthropic activities. Although also with Environmental vulnerability Reference is made to the degree of environmental resistance to natural phenomena, such as an earthquake.

Environmental vulnerability depends on two factors:

• Exposure: It is the level at which nature is exposed to environmental problems. For example, a bird that lives in a natural environment where hunting is illegal is less vulnerable than the one that lives in a place where hunting has no control.
• Adaptive Capacity: It is the skill that nature has to adjust its own functioning to adapt it to the changes that occur in order to reduce potential damage. For example, some species adapt physiologically to temperature changes caused by global warming, through a acclimatization process.

Nature is very wide and that is why not all areas have the same degree of vulnerability. Those most vulnerable have less capacity to respond to changes, in addition to being more exposed, thus expanding the amount of damage and a longer recovery time. However, those less vulnerable areas have greater capacity to give an answer and are less exposed, thus receiving less damage and having a recovery in the shortest time.

Next, we will expose several examples of very vulnerable and little vulnerable ecosystems or species.

These are some Examples of environmental vulnerabilityfocusing on ecosystems or species with a high environmental vulnerabilitythat is, they are in danger of extinction or in the category of Endangered:

• Bentonic organisms (Like sea stars, sea cucumbers, ophrivers, clams, oysters …) that inhabit the antarctic marine ecosystems are especially vulnerable, because their growth rate is very slow if we compare it with organisms from other more temperate areas. In this area, fishing is practiced that will have more harmful effects on these ecosystems, since having a slower growth rate will need more time to recover.
• The Amazonof great ecological interest in its biodiversity, it is in a high degree of vulnerability, as well as most species that inhabit it, since it is being exploited by different anthropic activities, such as livestock, agriculture, deforestation, mining, the construction of hydroelectric and roads. Here we explain more about the deforestation of the Amazon, its causes and consequences.
• The coral reefs They are ecosystems that like any ecosystem faces global warming, and they have to adjust to resist these environmental changes. Although if we add to this environmental problem the threats suffered by reefs by actions such as fishing and pollution of runoff. We find a more vulnerable ecosystem thus having less capacity to resist global warming.

Ecosystems or species with a Little high environmental vulnerabilityin the category of Least concernthat is, so far they are not being affected by environmental problems or, they are adapting to environmental changes.

• The Gratiola Linifolia It is an annual, common plant of a Mediterranean climate. Although he suffers from droughts, as well as for agricultural or livestock farms. Its population is currently stable and you don’t have to worry about it.
• Patagonian Tsarigüeya (Lestodelphys Halli) It is a species that was classified as vulnerable, although it was from 2008 when it was determined as minor concern (Least concern) for having increased its population. It does not suffer great threats, although it is true that the number of its population is descending again. This species inhabit places like meadows and deserts.
• Allium Feinbergii It is a plant species that lives in rocky areas, and is threatened by the consequences of climate change, but it is a species that continues with a stable population and is currently considered less concern.

The concept of risk, in the environmental context, refers to the probability that the environment suffers damage due to human action or some natural phenomenon. But to better understand the concept of risk we also have to understand that of threat (or danger) and vulnerability, although we now know it.

A threat or environmental danger It is defined as the probability that a catastrophic event occurs for a certain time in the environment. Instead, the Environmental risk It is the result that there is a threat (or danger) and the degree of vulnerability of nature. Threats would be the environmental problem caused by anthropic activities and natural phenomena, and vulnerability depends on exposure and adaptation capacity. Risk = threat + vulnerability

Therefore, the Difference between risk and vulnerability is that the risk determines whether the threat will more or less affect a system or component of this depending on its vulnerability. And vulnerability measures the degree of losses and damage that nature has received by a threat.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is environmental vulnerabilitywe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.