2.2 Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem Values

1. ^^Intrinsic Value:^^ ecosystems have their own value independent from the needs and desires of humans

       1. Moral obligation to protect    2. Often related to religion and/or philosophy

2. ^^Instrumental Value:^^ has worth in terms of goods and services

       1. $Provisioning$—goods that humans use directly       → lumber, food crops, rubber, fur, medicinal plants (Taxol)    2. Regulating services

      → 4 gigatons of carbon removed by phytoplankton and plants       → nutrient and water cycles    3. Support systems       → pollination, water filtration, natural pest control    4. Cultural services/Aesthetic value (beauty)       → Tourism, real estate, recreation

A healthy ecosystem has…

^^Resilience^^—need to maintain genetic diversity so can have varieties to address needs of the future

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