In the search for the resources we extensively require to sustain our societies, human actions have been causing disturbances to the natural world. Ranging from energy generation, deforestation and agriculture to mining and urban expansion, we have profoundly altered tropical ecosystems, threatening the most diverse places on Earth. These impacts often lead to biodiversity losses, homogenization and shifts in species composition and their ecosystem functions, posing significant challenges for conservation science. However, emerging research has been showing surprising resilience and even positive net impacts in some cases, offering hope for the future of these landscapes. This symposium seeks to explore the temporal and spatial dynamics of biodiversity in tropical ecosystems affected by human activity, examining how ecosystems respond, recover, and adapt to disturbances. We hope to bridge theory and practice through a multidisciplinary lens, where we will delve into the processes shaping biodiversity patterns, including beta-diversity changes, species turnover, tipping points and citizen science. Studies in land and water, dealing with multiple taxonomic groups, using spatially extensive and long-term datasets, and innovative analytical frameworks will be presented, shedding light on how human-altered landscapes have potential for recovery and even enhancement of ecosystem functions. Among key questions to be addressed, we propose: What drives variability in biodiversity responses to disturbances? How do historical and chronic stressors influence contemporary patterns of resilience? Can targeted restoration and management practices turn degraded ecosystems into sources of biodiversity and ecosystem services? We expect speakers will discuss strategies for leveraging these findings to inform conservation policies, restoration initiatives, and community engagement. By focusing on both the challenges and opportunities presented by human disturbances, this symposium aims to foster a nuanced understanding of conservation in tropical ecosystems. We invite researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to join this dialogue, aiming to reimagine how human-altered tropical landscapes can contribute to a hopeful vision for biodiversity conservation.