What Is a Sustainable Ecosystem?

Sustainable ecosystems across the country share several attributes, most notably biological diversity. Diversity means not only a collection of different species present, but a large amount of different species present. Other key characteristics include available acreage for roaming and expansion, available unpolluted water source and limited or controlled human activity.

There are endangered ecosystems all over the world whose diversity and sustainability is threatened daily by human actions. One of the most relevant examples of an endangered ecosystem that is quickly becoming unsustainable are coral reefs worldwide. Cyanide fishing, coral mining for souvenirs and general human activity in coral reef regions have led to a threatened sustainability.

Fortunately, there are still examples of sustainable ecosystems remaining around the world. One of the most prominent examples is the Appalachian region in the southwestern United States, which is one of the most richly biodiverse regions in the world. Aside from teeming forests, cities that reuse and recycle and exist in harmony with the surrounding environments are also considered sustainable ecosystems.