Vulnerability (in ecosystems)

Definition:

Exposure to contingencies and stress, and the difficulty in coping with them.

Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment  Glossary

More:

Three major dimensions of vulnerability are involved:

  • exposure to stresses, perturbations, and shocks;
  • the sensitivity of people, places, ecosystems, and species to the stress or perturbation, including their capacity to anticipate and cope with the stress;
  • and the resilience of the exposed people, places, ecosystems, and species in terms of their capacity to absorb shocks and perturbations while maintaining function.

Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment  Glossary

Related words:

Resilience

Translation(s):

Español: Vulnerabilidad (de los ecosistemas)
Français: Vulnérabilité des ecosystèmes
Nederlands: Kwetsbaarheid (van ecosystemen)

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