Question

Why are ecosystem services important?

Answer 1

Ecosystem services:

1. Ecosystems provide services that are critical to the sustainability and quality of human life.
2. In this perspective, ecosystem services are advantages that ecosystems provide to people, enabling them to fully realize their potential. Therefore, it is crucial to shift the focus of protecting the environment from sustainability to sustainable regeneration.

Four categories of services exist:

1. Supply services are the most concrete and direct, referring to goods derived from ecosystems, such as food and raw materials like wood, freshwater, biochemicals, fibers, etc., which we use as resources to create and produce a wide range of materials, items, and technological advancements.
2. Regulation services include pollination, soil fertility, temperature regulation, and nutrient cycles. These advantages come straight from ecosystems without being transformed beforehand. Ecosystems keep us safe from natural calamities, control temperature, and clean the air and water.
3. Ecosystem services: These services lay the foundation for the growth of our cultures. We are both artistically and scientifically inspired by nature. It gives us a sense of cultural identity and makes us feel a sense of connection to the place we live. Additionally, it provides us with leisure and tourism options. Instilling a sense of belonging, natural heritage, traditional knowledge, and customs are crucial. We identify with our surroundings as a result.
4. Support services are those that are required to produce other ecosystem services. For instance, hundreds of creatures work together to create fertile soils, which are necessary for growing food and maintaining the health of local ecosystems. Other services and materials are produced as a result of these ecosystems.