[Biology Class Notes] on Ecosystem Services Pdf

Nature has been serving mankind for a very long period in almost all fields. The immense products that we obtain from the environment are priceless. These various products and services that mankind obtains from the environment are known as ecosystem services. The ecosystem services include the agroecosystem, forest ecosystem, grassland ecosystems, and aquatic ecosystems. 

To maintain human health and stability, the ecosystem provides clean air, extreme weather mitigation, crops and many more. Apart from these, this also includes the provisioning of clean drinking water, the decomposition of wastes and the resilience and productivity of food ecosystems. 

In the year 2006, according to Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), ecosystem services are categorised into four major criteria. They are supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural. 

These are widely discussed below: 

Regulating Ecosystem Services:

The regulating services provided by the ecosystem are listed as:

• The purified water and air by the environment.

• Availability of the most important compound,i.e., carbon and the climatic regulations.

• The process of predation occurring in the environment regulates the prey population.

• The process to control biological pests and disease control.

• Pollination is involved in the environment.

• Regulated the disturbance of the environment which includes flood protection.

Provisioning Ecosystem Services:

The provisioning services of the ecosystem include the following mentioned points:

• Food, crops, wild foods, and spices. This also includes seafood and game.

• Different raw materials include lumber, skins, fuelwood, organic matter, etc.

• Medicinal resources including pharmaceuticals, chemical models, etc.

• The energy which includes hydropower, biomass fuels

• Ornamental resources include fashion, handicrafts, jewellery, pets, etc.

Cultural Ecosystem Services:

The cultural services of the ecosystem include:

• Recreational experiences include ecotourism, outdoor sports and recreation.

• Therapeutics include ecotherapy, social forestry and animal-assisted therapy.

• Spiritual and historical includes the religious or heritage value or nature.

• Cultural services include books, film, painting, folklore, national symbols, advertising, etc.

Supporting Ecosystem Services:

These are also considered redundant services. These services provided ecosystem includes nutrients, cycling, primary production, soil formation, habitat Provision. These are not only limited to these services but also includes services that help the ecosystem to keep on supplying the other services also which includes food supply, flood regulation and water purification.

The relationship between humans and ecosystems is of great value. With the growing need for survival in the environment, people are harassing the environment. It is high time to get proper concentration on the environmental issues and use them in a proper manner.