Biology – Conservation | e-Consult

Biodiversity is fundamental to the provision of ecosystem services – the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems. These services are essential for human well-being and economic prosperity. Here are three examples:

• Provisioning Services: These include obtaining food, fresh water, timber, and other resources from ecosystems. Biodiversity is essential for these services. For example, a wide variety of wild plants provide food and medicinal resources. Healthy forests provide timber and regulate water flow. A diverse range of fish species supports fisheries.
• Regulating Services: These are services that regulate environmental conditions, such as climate regulation, flood control, and disease regulation. Biodiversity plays a key role. For instance, forests absorb carbon dioxide, mitigating climate change. Wetlands filter pollutants and reduce flood risk. Predators control populations of disease-carrying organisms.
• Cultural Services: These are the non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems, including recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual values. Biodiversity enhances these services. For example, natural landscapes provide opportunities for recreation and tourism. Diverse ecosystems inspire art, literature, and spiritual practices. The aesthetic value of a healthy ecosystem contributes to human well-being.

Example: Mangrove forests provide a crucial coastal ecosystem service. Their biodiversity (various mangrove species, associated fish, crabs, etc.) protects coastlines from erosion, acts as nurseries for fish, and filters pollutants from runoff. Without this biodiversity, coastal communities would be far more vulnerable to storms and flooding.