ENVR101 - ecosystem services

What are ecosystem services?

Benefits that people obtain from ecosystems.

What are the four categories of ecosystem services?

Provisioning, Regulating, Supporting, and Cultural.

Give an example of provisioning ecosystem service.

The production of food and water.

Give an example of regulating ecosystem service.

The control of climate and disease.

Give an example of supporting ecosystem service.

Nutrient cycles and crop pollination.

Give an example of cultural ecosystem service.

Spiritual and recreational benefits.

What are some ecosystem services provided by biodiversity?

Supplies food, materials, natural products for medicine, water purification, regulation, pollination, erosion regulation, social, cultural, and recreational benefits, functions supporting life such as cycling of nutrients and production of oxygen.

What are some ecosystem services provided by lakes and rivers?

Hydrological cycles, flow regulation, flood control, water supply, recreation, and food.

What ecosystem services are provided by forests?

Climate and erosion control, nutrient cycling, waste treatment, raw material production, and carbon storage.

What are the ecosystem services of agricultural/horticultural ecosystems?

Commercial food production, erosion control, soil formation, waste treatment, nutrient cycling, and pollination.

Name some ecosystem services provided by freshwater wetlands.

Storm protection, flood control, habitat, nutrient recycling, and waste treatment.

What are the ecosystem services of estuarine ecosystems?

Spawning and nursery grounds for many species, habitat, waste treatment, and nutrient cycling.

what is an estuary?

the wide part of a river at the place where it joins the sea

What measures were taken to restore the New York City water quality?

Reducing sewage and pesticide inputs into the catchment and restoring the polluted Catskill Watershed using natural processes.

What was the estimated value of ecosystem services in the Waikato region in 1997?

$9.4 billion.

How does the cost of restoring the watershed compare to building a water treatment plant and its annual running costs?

The cost of restoring the watershed was significantly lower than building a water treatment plant and its annual running costs.

What percentage of New Zealand land is held within the conservation estate?

Approximately 30%.

How many national parks are included in the New Zealand conservation estate?

13

What is the annual budget of the Department of Conservation?

$400 million.

What is the recent controversy around the New Zealand national parks?

land swaps.

What are the various benefits provided by New Zealand's biodiversity?

Ecosystem services.