Ecosystems are the result of complex interactions between the living and non-living components of a biological community (Cunningham and Cunningham, 2009). These complex interactions form the structure and processes of ecosystems which perform functions such as provisioning and regulating functions. From these functions, ecosystem goods and services can be obtained (de Groot, 1992) that represent the benefits human populations derive, directly or indirectly, from ecosystems (de Groot, 1992). ES can be valued in ecological, socio-cultural and economic values. Ecosystem services are defined as “flow of materials, energy and information obtained from ‘natural capital stocks’ which combine with manufactured and human capital services to produce human benefit” (Costanza et al., 1997). Ecosystem services put human wellbeing at the centre. It is therefore anthropocentric but also focuses on ecology and sustainability.
ES can be used:
- As a framework to analyse the state of ecosystems and the services they provide;
- for regional planning and management of ecosystems, PAs, etc.;
- to identify and specify stakeholders;
- to value ecosystem services:
- in social-cultural values (jobs, cultural identity, pleasure);
- in ecological values (species variety & quantity);
- in economic values (€ or int. Dollars);
- to perform trade-off analysis of land use;
- as policy and communication tools;
- to create policy and financial instruments to develop and make use of ecosystem services.
References
Costanza R., d’Arge R., de Groot R., Farber S., Grasso M., Hannon B., Limburg K., Naeem S., O’Neill R., Paruelo J., Raskin R., Sutton P., van den Belt M. (1997): The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature vol 387.
Cunningham W. and Cunningham M. (2009): Principles of Environmental Science: Inquiry and Applications 5th edition. McGraw-Hill, NY, USA.
de Groot R.S. (1992): Functions of nature: Evaluation of nature in environmental planning, management and decision- making. Wolters Noordhoff B.V. Groningen, the Netherlands.