Definition
Ecosystem services are the numerous benefits that ecosystems provide to humans, which contribute to making human life both possible and comfortable.
Expanded Explanation
Ecosystem services are the outputs of ecosystems from which people derive benefits. These include provisioning, regulating, and cultural services that directly affect people and supporting services needed to maintain other services.
Types of Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem services are commonly divided into four main types:
- Provisioning Services: These are the products obtained from ecosystems, such as food, fresh water, wood, fiber, genetic resources, and medicines.
- Regulating Services: These are the benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes, such as climate regulation, disease regulation, water purification, and pollination.
- Cultural Services: These are nonmaterial benefits people obtain from ecosystems, such as spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, recreation, and aesthetic experiences.
- Supporting Services: These are the services necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services, like nutrient cycling, soil formation, and primary production.
Importance of Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem services are essential for human well-being and survival. They provide us with vital resources, protect us from environmental hazards, and contribute to our health, happiness, and prosperity.
Examples
- Example 1: Bees pollinating plants is an example of a regulating service provided by ecosystems. This process is crucial for the cultivation of most of our food crops.
- Example 2: Forests act as natural carbon sinks by absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, a key regulating service in mitigating climate change.
Related Terms
Visual Aids
The 2023-2028 World Outlook for Sap Digital Services Ecosystem
Ecosystem Services: Key Issues
External Resources
Related Articles From Sunnydaysgo.com
Why We Need to Protect Ecosystem Services Now More Than Ever
The Importance of Biodiversity Conservation You Need to Know
