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