Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
MOUNTAIN AND POLAR
Food
Fiber
Freshwater
Erosion control
Climate regulation
Recreation and
ecotourism
Aesthetic values
Spiritual values
INLAND WATER
Rivers and other wetlands
Freshwater
Food
Pollution control
Flood regulation
Sediment retention
and transport
Disease regulation
Nutrient cycling
Recreation and
ecotourism
Aesthetic values
CULTIVATED
Food
Fiber
Freshwater
Dyes
Timber
Pest regulation
Biofuels
Medicines
Nutrient cycling
Aesthetic values
Cultural heritage
COASTAL
Food
Fiber
Timber
Fuel
Climate regulation
Waste processing
Nutrient cycling
Storm and wave
protection
Recreation and
ecotourism
Aesthetic values
FOREST AND
WOODLANDS
Food
Timber
Freshwater
Fuelwood
Food regulation
Disease regulation
Carbon sequestration
Local climate
regulation
Medicines
Recreation
Aesthetic values
Spiritual values
DRYLANDS
Food
Fiber
Fuelwood
Local climate
regulation
Cultural heritage
Recreation and
ecotourism
Spiritual values
URBAN
Parks and gardens
Air quality regulation
Water regulation
Local climate
regulation
Cultural heritage
Recreation
Education
MARINE
Food
Climate regulation
Nutrient cycling
Recreation
ISLAND
Food
Freshwater
Recreation and
ecotourism
Fig. 1.7
A range of ecosystems, both natural and human engineered, extending from the mountains to the sea. Each
ecosystem type provides its own particular set of ecosystem services. (From Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005b.)
chemicals and the ecosystem's capacity to decompose organic waste. Similarly, the
loss of riverside vegetation (which can fi lter nutrient loads) has allowed pollutant
levels to increase in aquatic ecosystems. Declines have also occurred in natural
hazard protection (loss of natural fl ood regulation), regulation of air quality and
climate, regulation of soil erosion and in many 'cultural' services (Millennium Eco-
system Assessment, 2005b). It is wort h noting that ecosystem modifi cation to
enhance one service (e.g. intensifi cation of agriculture to produce more crop per
hectare - 'provisioning') generally comes at a cost to other services that the ecosys-
tem previously provided (loss of 'regulating' services such as nutrient uptake so
pollutant runoff to streams is increased; loss of 'cultural' services such as sites sacred
to particular people, streamside walks and valued biodiversity).
All ecosystem services depend directly on elements of biodiversity or on the eco-
system processes supported by biodiversity. Loss of biodiversity, therefore, will often
reduce the range of services available to people. There are, in other words, strong
economic reasons to manage and conserve nature. This is a point I return to in
Section 1.3.2.
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