Sensing system identifies ecosystems on the brink of collapse

A new “resilience sensing system” can identify ecosystems that are in danger of collapse, writes the University of Exeter in a press release.

The system uses satellites to spot areas of concern – including those at risk of “tipping points” – and can also measure the success of conservation and restoration efforts.

Resilient ecosystems have a greater ability to recover from shocks such as droughts, fires, and floods – so a decline in resilience makes an ecosystem more vulnerable.

Global average resilience in decline

The research team, led by the Global Systems Institute (GSI) at the University of Exeter, has developed a prototype sensing system. Its initial results suggest global average resilience has declined in the last 20 years.

“By identifying regions that are losing resilience, this system shows us which places we should be most concerned about,” said GSI Director Professor Tim Lenton.

“It can raise a red flag, guiding action to restore resilience. This is especially important in places that might have a tipping point (a threshold that sparks irreversible change), such as the Amazon rainforest.”

Amazon rainforest at risk

A recent study by the GSI team showed that the Amazon rainforest is losing resilience – a situation “consistent” with an approaching tipping point that could trigger dieback and turn much of the forest into savannah.

The new paper is based on regular Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) measurements to see how ecosystems respond to changing conditions.

Professor Lenton said the sensing system can measure the effectiveness of projects such as TIST, through which thousands of farmers have planted and protected millions of trees across four countries.

Seed-planting drones help create new forests 

The Cerro de Monserrate sits on top of Bogotá’s city center. It overlooks the urban area, with its hectares full of forests, where hiking means immersing in biodiversity. This same nature struck Juan Carlos Sesma, who – back in 2015 – was there for a business trip.

“You can see whether these projects are giving resilience back to an ecosystem,” he said.

The system now needs to be developed further, and Professor Lenton said including marine ecosystems (not just those on land) would be a major step forward.

The research team included the University of Montpellier, the Technical University of Munich and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.