Ecosystem Services Flashcards
What is a ecosystem services?
services provided by the natural environment that are of benefit to people
what are the ethical reasons for maintaining BD 1/3
If we destroy the BD of an ES we are denying future generations the opportunity to use these renewable natural resources
what are the ethical reasons for maintaining BD 2/3
if BD is lost and species become extinct unique combinations of DNA are lost
what are the ethical reasons for maintaining BD 3/3
Human activities also have the potential to cause mass extinctions through climate change
what is the problem with ethical arguments
they don’t always carry a lot of weight with governments, governments are interested into the economic side
what happens if their is a loss of BS 1/3
Potential financial loses for the future
what happens if their is a loss of BS 2/3
Reduces the chance of finding new species
what happens if their is a loss of BS 3/3
reduces the chance of finding new food
What are regulating services
they are involved process including water purification
Sewage treatment
maintaing air quality
disease regulation
What are supporting services
Biodiverse ecosystems provide support for other ES services that we need i.e
soil formation
nutrient cycling in the environment are both E systems without which we could not grow food to eat
What are cultrual services
in some areas the economy of a country can depend on people visting to observe its wild animals and plant life
what are provisiing services
ecosystems provide us with:
- food
- fibres for clothing
- building materials
- fuel
- genetic resources for crop improvements
- fresh water
- medicines
the greater the BD the more potential sources of all these services there are available for us
Taking an ecosystem approach 1/4
once BD is lost from an area it is not easily regainedq
Taking an ecosystem approach 2/4
economic arguments for the maintenance of BD are more effective than ethical ones
Taking an ecosystem approach 3/4
if BD is lost neglected or destoryed it can be very expensive