Question

What is an ecosystem service? List any four important ecosystem services provided by the natural ecosystems. Are you in favour or against levying a charge on the service provided by the ecosystem?

Answer 1

The benefits and services that are provided by the ecosystem to our mankind are collectively known as Ecosystem Services.

The ecosystem services provided by nature are

• Water for drinking and other purposes
• Primary production of energy
• Seed dispersal
• Pollination for fertilization
• Nutrient cycling and dispersal (Carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle etc.)
• Food crops
• Waste decomposition
• Pharmaceutical raw materials

We can only pay the charge for all these services by handling them carefully and use them in a sustainable way.