2.2 ecosystem services

ecosystem services

goods and services provided by natural ecosystems that are beneficial to humans (often monetarily of life-sustaining)

provisioning

goods taken directly from ecosystems or made from natural resources (wood, paper, food, fish, honey)

examples of provisioning

fishing, hunting, lumber, (wood for furniture/buildings), naturally grown foods like berries, seeds, wild grains, honey, paper, medicine, and rubber

regulating

nat. ecosystems regulate climate/air quality, reducing storm damage & healthcare costs

regulating examples

• trees in a forest sequester (store) co2 through photosynthesis. which reduces climate change & lessens damage caused by rising sea levels & reduces crop failure from drought

• trees filter air by absorbing air pollutants which reduces healthcare costs for treating diseases like asthma and bronchitis

supporting

nat ecosystems support processes we do ourselves, making them cheaper & easier (bees pollinate crops)

supporting examples

• wetland plant roots filter pollutants, leading to cleaner groundwater that we don’t have to pay as much to purify w expensive water treatment plants

• bees and other insects pollinate ag. crops, leading to more crop production & higher profits

cultural

money generated by recreation (parks, camping, tours) or scientific knowledges

cultural examples

• hunting, fishing licenses, park fees, tourism, health, ag education knowledge

• beautiful landscapes draw tourists who pay to enter parks, spend money at local stores/restaurants, or camping fees

• scientists learn ab plant compounds that can lead to creation of new medicines which are sold for profit

how is provisioning disrupted

overharvesting, water pollution, clearing land for ag/urbanization

how is regulating disrupted

• clearing land for ag/cities remove trees that store co2 (more co2 in atmosphere = more cc- more storm damage & crop failure)

• deforestation

how is supporting disrupted

• overfishing leads to fish pop collapse (lost fishing jobs and lower fish sales in the future)

• disrupted by pollinator hab loss & filling in wetlands for development

how is cultural disrupted

deforestation, pollution, and urbanization

humans disrupt ecosystem services based?

ecological and economic consequences