This paper explores the crucial linkage between societal risk perception and the survival of threatened ecosystems exhibiting non-linear stock dynamics. Formation of beliefs over specie’s importance and over its survival chances may be subject to resilience and therefore may differ from actual risks. Whereas, ecosystems stand a higher chance of survival if they aren’t stressed beyond their resilience thresholds. When subjective perception of risks and the affected ecosystems are both influenced by competing uses of resources, several equilibriums arise, not all of which may ensure sustainability of the ecosystem.