Ecosystem health indicators

Ecosystem health indicators are measures which help us to understand where action should be taken to restore ecosystem health and associated benefits.

Condition indicators tell us whether an ecosystem is in a good state. They include indicators of habitat, species and resources, such as water and carbon.

Function indicators tell us the extent to which ecosystems retain their natural function and so have the capacity to deliver a range of benefits. Ecosystem functions are the processes within ecosystems that help deliver ecosystems services.

Resilience indicators measure the extent to which the health of ecosystems can be sustained under human and environmental pressures. In turn, this relates to their capacity to continue to deliver benefits.