Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
•
cultural services
that provide recreational, aesthetic and spiritual benefits; and
•
supporting services
such as soil formation, photosynthesis and nutrient cycling.
Despite the growth in human ingenuity, knowledge and technology, the survival
and flourishing of human society is utterly and ultimately dependent on these eco-
system services. The MEA (2005) understands human well-being as consisting of:
•
basic material for a good life
, such as secure and adequate livelihoods, enough
food at all times, shelter, clothing, and access to goods;
•
health
, including feeling well and having a healthy physical environment, such
as clean air and access to clean water;
•
good social relations
, including social cohesion, mutual respect, and the ability
to help others and provide for children;
•
security
, including secure access to natural and other resources, personal safety,
and security from natural and human-made disasters; and
•
freedom of choice and action
, including the opportunity to achieve what an
individual values doing and being.
However, the MEA (2005: 1) recognizes that freedom of choice and action is also
influenced by education, political culture and economic well-being. It is therefore a
scientific study informed by social, cultural and human contexts. There are four
main findings:
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
CONSTITUENTS OF WELLBEING
Provisioning
Food
Fresh water
Wood and fibre
Fuel
. . .
Security
Personal safety
Secure resource access
Security from disasters
Basic material for good life
Adequate livelihoods
Sufficient nutritious food
Shelter
Access to goods
Freedom of choice
and action
Opportunity to be
able to achieve
what an individual
values doing and
being
Supporting
Nutrient cycling
Soil formation
Primary production
. . .
Regulating
Climate regulation
Flood regulation
Disease regulation
Water purification
. . .
Health
Strength
Feeling well
Access to clean air and water
Cultural
Aesthetic
Spiritual
Educational
Recreational
. . .
Good social relations
Social cohesion
Mutual respect
Ability to help others
Figure 7.1
The constituents of well-being
Source: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) (2005).
