Ecosystem Services
- Maintaining biodiversity is important for human well-being as they provide:
- Provisioning services - food, medicines, water, fuel etc.
- Supporting services - photosynthesis, nutrient cycling etc.
- Cultural services - non-material benefits such as spiritual experience, pleasure, exercise etc.
- Regulating service - water and air quality, flood regulation etc.
- Changes in biodiversity and ecosystem services are due to:
- Natural causes - volcanic eruptions, storm hazards etc.
- Culture and religion - use of plant and animals in traditional medicines
- Science and technology - demand for new types of medicines etc.
- Economics - deforestation of the Amazon rainforest
- Socio-political factors - understanding of how biodiversity is used within regions
- Demographics - size and age of a population
- Present changes are driven by pressures of increased population and consumption of goods