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Our challenge for the future is that we realize we are very much a part of the earth’s ecosystem, and we must learn to respect and live according to the basic biological laws of nature.” —Jim Fowler Ecosystem services are the direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being. As we often mention ecosystem services in our publications and presentations, we wanted to have a description of this important concept readily accessible on our site. The details below are a direct excerpt from the TEEB Organization’s Ecosystem Services Resource page —please refer to their website for further details and references on the topic. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment defined four categories of ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being, each underpinned by biodiversity. These are Provisioning services; Regulating services; Supporting services, and Cultural services, and are defined as follows: Provisioning Services Provisioning Services are ecosystem services that describe the material or energy outputs from ecosystems. They include food, water, and other resources. Food ▹ Ecosystems provide the conditions for growing food. Food comes principally from managed agroecosystems but marine and freshwater systems or forests also provide food for human consumption. Wild foods from forests are often underestimated. Raw materials ▹ Ecosystems provide a great diversity of materials for construction and fuel including wood, biofuels, and plant oils that are directly derived from wild and cultivated plant species. Freshwater ▹ Ecosystems play a vital role in the global hydrological cycle, as they regulate the flow and purification of water. Vegetation and forests influence the quantity of water available locally. Medicinal resources ▹ Ecosystems and biodiversity provide many plants used as traditional medicines as well as providing the raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. All ecosystems are a potential source of medicinal resources. Regulating Services Regulating Services are the services that ecosystems provide by acting as regulators eg. regulating the quality of air and soil or by providing flood and disease control. Local climate and air quality ▹ Trees provide shade whilst forests influence rainfall and water availability both locally and regionally. Trees or other plants also play an important role in regulating air quality by removing pollutants from the atmosphere. Carbon sequestration and storage ▹ Ecosystems regulate the global climate by storing and sequestering greenhouse gases. As trees and plants grow, they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and effectively lock it away in their tissues. In this way, forest ecosystems are carbon stores. Biodiversity also plays an important role by improving the capacity of ecosystems to adapt to the effects of climate change. Moderation of extreme events ▹ Extreme weather events or natural hazards include floods, storms, tsunamis, avalanches, and landslides. Ecosystems and living organisms create buffers against natural disasters, thereby preventing possible damage. For example, wetlands can soak up flood water whilst trees can stabilize slopes. Coral reefs and mangroves help protect coastlines from storm damage. Waste-water treatment ▹ Ecosystems such as wetlands filter both human and animal waste and act as a natural buffer to the surrounding environment. Through the biological activity of microorganisms in the soil, most waste is broken down. Thereby pathogens (disease-causing microbes) are eliminated, and the level of nutrients and pollution is reduced. Erosion prevention and maintenance of soil fertility ▹ Soil erosion is a key factor in the process of land degradation and desertification. Vegetation cover provides a vital regulating service by preventing soil erosion. Soil fertility is essential for plant growth and agriculture and well functioning ecosystems supply the soil with nutrients required to support plant growth. Pollination ▹ Insects and wind pollinate plants and trees which is essential for the development of fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Animal pollination is an ecosystem service mainly provided by insects but also by some birds and bats. Some 87 out of the 115 leading global food crops depend upon animal pollination including important cash crops such as cocoa and coffee (Klein et al. 2007). Biological control ▹ Ecosystems are important for regulating pests and vector-borne diseases that attack plants, animals, and people. Ecosystems regulate pests and diseases through the activities of predators and parasites. Birds, bats, flies, wasps, frogs, and fungi all act as natural controls. Supporting Services Habitat or Supporting Services underpin almost all other services. Ecosystems provide living spaces for plants or animals; they also maintain a diversity of different breeds of plants and animals. Habitats for species ▹ Habitats provide everything that an individual plant or animal needs to survive: food; water; and shelter. Each ecosystem provides different habitats that can be essential for a species’ lifecycle. Migratory species including birds, fish, mammals, and insects all depend upon different ecosystems during their movements. Maintenance of genetic diversity ▹ Genetic diversity is the variety of genes between and within species populations. Genetic diversity distinguishes different breeds or races from each other thus providing the basis for locally well-adapted cultivars and a gene pool for further developing commercial crops and livestock. Some habitats have an exceptionally high number of species which makes them more genetically diverse than others and are known as ‘biodiversity hotspots’. Cultural Services Cultural Services include the non-material benefits people obtain from contact with ecosystems. They ́include aesthetic, spiritual and psychological benefits. Recreation and mental and physical health ▹ Walking and playing sports in green space is not only a good form of physical exercise but also lets people relax. The role that green space plays in maintaining mental and physical health is increasingly being recognized, despite difficulties of measurement. Tourism ▹ Ecosystems and biodiversity play an important role in many kinds of tourism which in turn provides considerable economic benefits and is a vital source of income for many countries. In 2008 global earnings from tourism summed up to US$ 944 billion. Cultural and eco-tourism can also educate people about the importance of biological diversity. Aesthetic appreciation and inspiration for culture, art, and design ▹ Language, knowledge, and the natural environment have been intimately related throughout human history. Biodiversity, ecosystems and natural landscapes have been the source of inspiration for much of our art, culture and increasingly for science. Spiritual experience and sense of place ▹ In many parts of the world natural features such as specific forests, caves or mountains are considered sacred or have a religious meaning. Nature is a common element of all major religions and traditional knowledge, and associated customs are important for creating a sense of belonging. Source: Direct excerpt from TEEB Ecosystem Services Resource Page ✒️ What you think is important to us. Feel free to engage us and leave a courteous message below. Thanks! You might also like... 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Nature's benefits or ecosystem services depend on a healthy environment. Investing in nature will help to secure these benefits for future generations.
This product includes: 1. Editable Vector .AI file Compatibility: Adobe Illustrator CC Includes Editable Text Font SuezOne (Under Free Open Font License) 2. Editable Vector .EPS-10 file Compatibility: Most Vector Editing Software 3. High-resolution JPG image 4800 x 3840 px License terms in short: Use for everything except reselling item itself. Read a full license here
This product includes: 1. Editable Vector .AI file Compatibility: Adobe Illustrator CC 2. Editable Vector .EPS-10 file Compatibility: Most Vector Editing Software 3. High-resolution JPG image 6000 x 3140 px License terms in short: Use for everything except reselling item itself. Read a full license here
A city without ecosystem services is neither attractive nor alive. Creating, protecting and developing ecosystem services in urban areas can reduce ecological footprints while enhancing resilience and improving health and quality of life. By incorporating green spaces with plants and water courses, we can establish urban ecosystem services. Green-blue structures, the ground they rest on, and the animals, birds and insects that live there will provide us with the ecosystem services we need. Greenery can help to regulate microclimates, clean the air and reduce noise from traffic, at the same time as providing places for recreation with exposure to nature. Greenery can be placed between buildings, on roofs or walls, or as trees along streets. Careful choice of plants, insect and bird feeders as well as proximity between green spaces can provide good habitats for pollinating insects and birds that disperse seeds. Permeable land, ponds and wetlands can take care of rainwater by levelling off the flow. Children who grow up in such environments are healthier and have a greater appreciation for nature. Ecosystem services Food: The ecosystem provides us with opportunities to grow food. Food comes primarily from agri- cultural ecosystems, but also from urban gardens. Drinking water: The ecosystem plays an important role in supplying cities with drinking water by taking care of water flow, storage and purification. Vegetation and forests affect water supply. Species habitat: A habitat is a living environment for plants, animals or other organisms which includes the resources those species need to survive, for example food, water and protection. Every ecosystem provides habitats that can be critical for a species’ lifecycle. Some habitats provide for an especially large number of species so they are more genetically diverse than others (so-called “hot spots”). Microclimate: Trees and green areas in cities lower the temperature, and forests affect precipitation and local and regional water supply. Trees can also shade streets and public squares. Local air quality: Trees and other vegetation have a significant role in regulating air quality by absorb- ing air pollutants. Deciduous trees are efficient at cleaning air. In northern latitudes, coniferous trees can contribute to purifying air even during the winter. Noise reduction: Noise in cities affects health, the ability of children to learn, and animal life. Trees and vegetation can reduce noise. Binding of carbon and carbon dioxide: Ecosystems regulate global climate by storing greenhouse gases. Storage of carbon takes place when trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and bind it in their tissues. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Buffer for extreme weather events: Ecosystems have the ability to protect or reduce damage from extreme weather and natural catastrophes, for ex- ample downpours and floods. Erosion protection and preservation of fertile soil: Plants can hold soil in place on slopes. Root systems bind the soil, while leaves and branches protect the soil from rain and reduce erosion. Wastewater treatment and reduction of storm- water flows: Wetlands filter stormwater and releases. Through the biological activity of microorganisms in soils, sewage is biodegraded. Pathogens are removed and levels of nutrients and pollutants are reduced. Green spaces, both on the ground and on roofs, can absorb stormwater locally, which in turn reduces the load on water treatment plants during heavy precipitation. Pollination: Insects and the wind pollinate plants that develop fruit, vegetables and seeds. Pollination is primarily carried out by insects, but birds and bats also play important roles in pollination and seed dispersal. Biological pest control: Ecosystems are important for regulating attacks from pests and vector-borne diseases which attack plants, animals and people. Birds, bats, flies, wasps, frogs and fungi act as natural pest controllers. Increased value of real estate: Research shows that housing in areas with trees and/or proximity to green areas have higher market values than in other areas. Tourism: Ecosystems and biodiversity play a major role in tourism, which is important for many local economies. Education: Outdoor play positively affects cognitive development and facilitates learning about nature and the environment. Recreation, mental and physical health: Walking, sports and other physical activities provide exercise and relaxation. Green structures in cities play an important role in creating incentives for physical activity and reducing stress. They are essential for mental health and important for children’s development. For green spaces to be used regularly and to provide the right conditions for active lives, they must be located close to homes or work, and be accessible by foot. The longer the distances from home or work to green spaces and parks, the fewer and the shorter the visits will be. Research has shown that 300 meters without roads or barriers is the limit for how far people are willing to walk. A good green space promotes children’s psychological, social, physical and motor development. Spending a lot of time in green areas positively affects the ability of children to concentrate, they spend more time doing physical activity and are healthier. There are studies that show that children at pre-schools with good access to nature have better motor skills and concentration, fewer sick days and are healthier than children at pre-schools with poor access to nature.
The #innovation ecosystem. #infographic #leadership #finance #startup #Liveworx MT @NuNaveen
A series of 7 worksheets that supports the learning in unit 2 "Biodiversity".The worksheets cover Succession, Biodiversity, species richness, ecosystem services and island biogeographyIncluded are over 2 hours of exam-style questions, crosswords, and match-up words to definitions.Each worksheet has ...
They provide us with many important services.
Buy Ecosystem Services: From Concept to Practice PDF ebook by author Jetske A. Bouma, Pieter J. H. van Beukering published by Cambridge University Press in 2015 and save up to 80%? compared to the print version of this textbook. With PDF version of this textbook, not only save you money, you can also highlight, add text, underline add post-it notes, bookmarks to pages, instantly search for the major terms or chapter titles, etc. Note: e-textBooks do not come with access codes, CDs/DVDs, workbooks, and other supplemental items. eBook Details: Full title: Ecosystem Services: From Concept to Practice Copyright year: 2015 Publisher: Cambridge University Press Author: Jetske A. Bouma, Pieter J. H. van Beukering ISBN: 9781107062887 Format: PDF
#Mangroves protect coastlines, provide prime habitat for fish, are essential nesting & feeding grounds for many species of birds and help fight climate change…
Get an overview of what the fintech industry encompasses, advantages to the financial ecosystem, and various tech solutions for finance professionals.
Check out this infographic to see how each microlearning piece feeds into a larger part of your curriculum to change behaviors and improve performance.
ProtonMail, the popular encrypted email service, is changing its name and expanding its offerings. The company plans to become a privacy-focused ecosystem, with a range of services that can be accessed through one paid subscription.
Explore the scalability and power of L2, L3, and Aggregated L2 rollups to determine which has the better edge in blockchain efficiency.
Did you know soil has 11 functions? #IYOS2015 @FAOnews #FoodTank
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This blog gives you an insight into the Alibaba Ecosystem.
Over the past few years the idea of the business ecosystem has become very important. As a long term observer of ecosystems I’ve ploughed in this field for about a decade and doubt I truly understand…
Cliquez ici pour découvrir comment aider à créer une connexion entre les enfants et la nature, avec une méthode en quatre temps.
Eco-Column: By: Kelsie Fronheiser, Gene Edwards, Jenny Kraus, Justin Lange Introduction: These instructions will help you create your very own eco-column in your home or classroom. An eco-column is a self-sustaining ecosystem on a small scale, made of plastic s…
UX Ecosystems The term ecosystem may have its origins in biology and the rich and complex interaction between animals, plants, natural resources and the environ...
DeFi is a growing ecosystem of protocols and applications, which are delivering value to several thousands of users, and transacting the equivalent of hundreds of millions of dollars in digital assets, every day. The very foundations of a new financial system are being laid, with applications that enable everything from simply making transfers and payments,…
Becoming a cognitive bank build around advance data analytics is the best way to achieve the promise of one-to-one customer relationships.
UX vs Service Design: What's The Difference? And why do you need both on your team? Read on to find out. User Experience
As platform business models increasingly gain board-level attention, the ecosystem conversation intensifies. David Kish – a TCS colleague – recently worked with the broader team (Kevin …
Thinking about ecosystems certainly allows us to go out of our normal scope of internally generating new products. It opens up a host of possibilities, that can add significantly to a new service design, new capabilities and solving more complex problems. In opening up to managing within ecosystems, you begin to see your ability to
