Glossary
Aesthetic Values (Cultural Service)
The beauty and visual enjoyment that humans derive from natural landscapes and ecosystems.
Example:
The vibrant colors of an autumn forest provide significant aesthetic values that draw tourists and photographers.
Air quality (Regulating Service)
The natural process by which ecosystems filter pollutants and maintain the composition of clean atmospheric gases.
Example:
Urban trees and green spaces significantly improve local air quality by absorbing harmful pollutants.
Anthropogenic Impacts
Effects or changes to the environment that are caused or influenced by human activities.
Example:
The construction of large dams, altering river flow and fish migration, represents significant anthropogenic impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
Biofuels (Provisioning Service)
Renewable fuels derived from biological materials, such as plants or animal waste, provided by ecosystems.
Example:
Ethanol produced from corn or sugarcane is a common type of biofuel used as an alternative to gasoline.
Biological control (Regulating Service)
The management of pests and diseases in ecosystems through the use of natural predators and parasites.
Example:
Introducing ladybugs to a garden to eat aphids is a form of biological control that reduces the need for chemical pesticides.
Carbon sequestration (Regulating Service)
The process by which ecosystems absorb and store atmospheric carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate climate change.
Example:
Vast forests act as natural carbon sinks, performing significant carbon sequestration by locking CO2 in their biomass.
Cultural Services
Non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems, enriching human lives through recreation, aesthetics, spirituality, and education.
Example:
Visiting a serene mountain lake for meditation and reflection provides significant cultural services.
Ecosystem Services
The diverse benefits that humans receive from healthy ecosystems, crucial for our well-being and often possessing significant economic value.
Example:
A thriving coral reef provides fish for consumption, protects coastlines from storms, and offers beautiful snorkeling spots, all of which are ecosystem services.
Educational Values (Cultural Service)
Opportunities provided by ecosystems for learning about nature, ecological processes, and environmental science.
Example:
A school field trip to a local nature preserve offers direct educational values by allowing students to observe ecosystems firsthand.
Erosion prevention (Regulating Service)
The maintenance of soil stability by ecosystems, preventing the loss of topsoil due to wind or water.
Example:
The extensive root systems of grasses on a hillside are vital for erosion prevention, holding the soil in place.
Food (Provisioning Service)
Edible products like crops, livestock, seafood, and wild game directly harvested from ecosystems for human consumption.
Example:
The vast wheat fields of the Great Plains provide essential food resources for millions of people.
Medicinal Plants (Provisioning Service)
Plants found in ecosystems that possess healing properties and are used for pharmaceutical purposes or traditional medicine.
Example:
The bark of the cinchona tree, found in South America, has historically been a source of quinine, a compound used to treat malaria, making it a vital medicinal plant.
Natural disaster control (Regulating Service)
The ability of ecosystems to reduce the impact of extreme natural events like floods, storms, and landslides.
Example:
Coastal mangrove forests provide excellent natural disaster control by buffering storm surges and preventing erosion.
Nutrient Cycling (Supporting Service)
The movement and exchange of essential elements (like nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon) through the living and non-living components of an ecosystem.
Example:
Decomposers like fungi and bacteria are crucial for nutrient cycling, returning vital elements from dead organisms back to the soil.
Photosynthesis (Supporting Service)
The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll, forming the base of most food webs.
Example:
Without photosynthesis, plants could not convert sunlight into energy, meaning no food for herbivores and subsequently no food for carnivores.
Pollination (Regulating Service)
The essential process, often facilitated by animals like bees and birds, that enables plant reproduction and fruit/seed production.
Example:
Without insect pollination, many of the fruits and vegetables we eat would not be able to reproduce.
Provisioning Services
Tangible products or 'goods' that humans obtain directly from ecosystems, such as food, water, and raw materials.
Example:
The harvesting of wild mushrooms from a forest for sale at a local market is an example of a provisioning service.
Recreational Values (Cultural Service)
Opportunities provided by natural areas for leisure activities and enjoyment, such as hiking, swimming, and picnicking.
Example:
Kayaking on a clear river offers immense recreational values for outdoor enthusiasts.
Regulating Services
Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes, such as climate regulation, flood control, and water purification.
Example:
Wetlands naturally filter pollutants from water, acting as a crucial regulating service for water quality.
Soil Formation (Supporting Service)
The complex process involving physical, chemical, and biological interactions that create and maintain fertile soil.
Example:
The slow weathering of rocks combined with the decomposition of organic matter contributes to the ongoing soil formation process.
Spiritual Values (Cultural Service)
The spiritual or religious significance that certain ecosystems or natural elements hold for individuals or communities.
Example:
Many indigenous cultures consider specific mountains or rivers to possess deep spiritual values, integral to their beliefs.
Supporting Services
The fundamental processes that are necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services, forming the building blocks of ecosystems.
Example:
The continuous process of nutrient cycling is a supporting service that allows plants to grow and provide food.
Timber (Provisioning Service)
Wood products harvested from forests for construction, fuel, paper, and other industrial uses.
Example:
Sustainable forestry practices ensure a continuous supply of timber for building materials.
Wastewater treatment (Regulating Service)
The natural filtering and purification of wastewater by ecosystems, removing pollutants before water re-enters the environment.
Example:
Constructed wetlands can be used for wastewater treatment, as plants and microbes naturally break down contaminants.
Water (Provisioning Service)
Fresh water supplied by ecosystems for drinking, irrigation, and other human uses.
Example:
A pristine mountain spring provides clean, potable water to a nearby village.
Water Cycle (Supporting Service)
The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth, involving processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
Example:
The water cycle ensures that freshwater is continuously replenished, making it available for all living organisms.
Water flow (Regulating Service)
The regulation of water cycles by ecosystems, which helps prevent both floods and droughts.
Example:
Healthy wetlands and forests help regulate water flow by absorbing excess rainfall and slowly releasing it, preventing rapid runoff.