What are ecosystem services?
The
billions of species on our planet, including humans, interact
with one another in many ways. These interactions among and between
species are what define ecosystems. Ecosystems in turn, provide
many "services" from which humans benefit. Ecosystem
services are the transformation of a set of natural assets (soil,
plants and animals, air and water) into things that we value.
For example, when fungi, worms and bacteria transform the raw
"ingredients" of sunlight, carbon and nitrogen into
fertile soil this transformation is an ecosystem service. However,
if we allow natural assets to decline, so do the benefits. Conversely,
if we look after and maintain our natural assets, we will benefit
from greater returns.
Some other examples of ecosystem services that come from nature
can be viewed in Chapter
7 of the Natural
Assets Inventory Report. They include;
- Pollination
- Fulfillment of people's cultural spiritual and intellectual
needs
- Regulation of climate
- Insect pest control
- Maintenance and provision of genetic resources
- Maintenance and regeneration of habitat
- Provision of shade and shelter
- Prevention of soil erosion
- Maintenance of soil fertility
- Maintenance of soil health
- Maintenance of healthy waterways
- Water filtration
- Regulation of river flows and groundwater levels
- Waste absorption and breakdown
Ecosystem services are little understood and too sophisticated
for us to reproduce even with the most advanced technology, yet
the important roles of these natural services are not being recognised
adequately in economic markets, government policies or land management
practices. As a result, ecosystems and the services they provide
are in decline.
Return
to top
|