The Environmentalist's Paradox

The Environmentalist's Paradox notes that despite ongoing environmental degradation, ecosystems often remain productive and people still benefit from nature’s services—like clean water, food, and air. This seems counterintuitive because we expect damages to lead to lower ecosystem health. The paradox suggests that some ecosystems can maintain functional services temporarily, even as they experience loss of biodiversity and biological health. It highlights the complex, often hidden resilience of nature but also warns that these systems may be vulnerable in the long term if degradation continues unchecked.