Definition of Ecosystem Services

david alercia
Lic. in biology

Ecosystems and biodiversity in general are valuable natural resources, and are renewable as long as they are make them a sustainable management that ensures their continuity and availability for the next generations. The use of natural resources brings benefits to society, which obtains food and raw materials. There are, however, indirect benefits that people receive simply because a resource exists. In the case of biodiversity, these benefits are known as ecosystem services.

They are identified as the “services” that ecosystems provide to society. The dividing line between natural resource and ecosystem service is blurred, and some services may be the provision of resources. In reality, these are different approaches: while the natural resources approach emphasizes the use that people make of the natural element, in the service approach the benefits that the natural element gives to the community are emphasized. society. In other words, the resource approach answers the question “what do we gain by extracting this resource”, “what do we gain by cutting down a tree” while the service approach answers the questions "what do we lose if such a resource disappears, what do we lose if a forest".

Examples and legislation

These services include provision of food and water, purification of air and water, pollination of crops, flood protection and climate regulation and are essential for survival and well-being human. The integrity of ecosystems is key to the existence and continuity of ecosystem services and their conservation and sustainable management are necessary to ensure that these services are available for present generations and future. The word "service" may refer to a commercial transaction, but it does not mean that we must pay for them. The legislation of many countries recognizes the right to a healthy environment, which means, among other things, that ecosystem services are public and free.

Ecosystems often occupy private land, and conflicts of interest arise with their owners, who may wish to dispose of their land for other purposes. It is at this point where the state, through the creation of natural reserves and the protection of the environment, plays a very important role as guarantor of the right of its citizens to enjoy the services ecosystemic. Urban nature reserves (nature reserves within cities) are especially valuable because they provide ecosystem services to city dwellers.

Four categories of ecosystem services

• Support: are those services necessary for the existence of other ecosystem services. They would be services that, indirectly, allow or facilitate the existence of all the others. These services are related to basic ecosystem processes: pollination and seed dispersal, Species habitat, biodiversity conservation, primary production and nutrient recycling in networks trophic Taken together, these processes make the ecosystem work, and a healthy ecosystem is the fundamental requirement for all other ecosystem services.

• sourcing: are the products obtained from ecosystems. That is, this category of service refers to the natural resources that can be obtained from the ecosystem, and that, if sustainable use is made of them, are renewable resources. Some examples are water, food and medicine.

• regulation: It is one of the most important categories for society. Ecosystems have the capacity to regulate some very important natural phenomena and the loss of this regulation can result in catastrophes such as floods or extreme weather. The ability of forests to regulate the climate is fundamental, since plants, by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) for the photosynthesis, "sequester" this gas from the atmosphere and help lower the temperature (which naturally has the effect of contributing to the effect greenhouse). This mechanism of climate regulation by CO2 sequestration is unbalanced and that is why current deforestation is said to be one of the causes of global warming. Plants also regulate temperature through the effect of the shadow they cast, which reduces insolation on the ground and makes it cooler.

Another of the key regulation mechanisms of ecosystems is the regulation of river floods: plants increase the soil's ability to absorb water, then, in the face of heavy rain, the soil usually absorbs more water and cushions the flooding of the rivers. In contrast, if that copious rain falls on soil without vegetation, the soil absorbs little water or nothing, and all that water ends up in the rivers, sometimes causing flash floods, floods, landslides mud.

Other regulating services, equally important, are air and water purification, due to the ability of many plants to absorb pollutants from the air through their leaves or from the soil or water through their estate. These plant capacities are used in pest and disease control systems.

Cultural and recreational

recreation and tourism: Ecosystems provide places for recreational and tourist activities, such as hiking, skiing, fishing, and hunting. Outdoor activities in natural environments are increasingly in demand, which are not only recreational activities, but have proven benefits for the physical and mental health of people.

culture and spirituality: Many communities depend on ecosystems for their culture and spirituality, and these ecosystems can play an important role in a community's cultural identity.