- Unsustainable resource use occurs when resource extraction exceeds the natural rate of replenishment.
- This weakens system resilience, increases vulnerability to tipping points, and may result in ecosystem collapse.
- Collapse is often long-term or irreversible, especially when food webs reorganize.
Definition
Ecosystem Collapse
A long-lasting loss of structure, biodiversity, and ecosystem function, where the system shifts to a new, less complex state.
Why Unsustainable Use Happens
- Over-consumption due to population growth and rising economic demand.
- Industrial-scale extraction technologies (e.g., factory trawlers, mechanized deforestation).
- Weak environmental governance (inadequate quotas, enforcement gaps).
- Profit-driven decision-making prioritizing short-term gain over long-term sustainability.
- Think of natural resources like a bank account.
- Sustainable use = spending only the interest.
- Unsustainable use = spending the capital → eventually the account becomes empty.
Consequences of Unsustainable Resource Use
- Loss of biodiversity
