Ecosystem services analysis

Question 1

What are ecosystem services?

Answer 1

Ecosystem services are the ‘benefits supplied by ecosystems to society’ (goods or services) (MA, 2003)

Question 2

What is an ecosystem function?

Answer 2

Ecosystem function is ‘the capacity of the ecosystem to provide goods and services that satisfy human needs directly or indirectly’ ( De Groot, 1992)

Question 3

What is the link between ecosystems and human well-being?

Answer 3

• Human well-being is affected by changes in the composition and functioning of ecosystems and the resultant flow of ecosystem services:
  
  • Biophysical structure or process e.g. photosynthesis ->
  • -> Function e.g. growth of biomass ->
  • -> Service e.g. wood harvest ->
  • -> Benefits e.g. wood supply for furniture ->
  • -> Value e.g. value of wood used for furniture

Question 4

What are the different kinds of classifications of ecosystem services? And what are the differences between them?

Answer 4

• Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (MA); The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity Project ( TEEB); CICES ( Common International Classification for Ecosystem Services)
• They all have 3 categories in common: provisioning, regulating and cultural services
• Habitat service is different between classifications: in MA it is considered a supporting service ; in TEEB it is in Habitat services; In CICES it is under regulating and maintenance services

Question 5

What are the 3 types of ecosystem services?

Answer 5

• Provisioning: the products that can be extracted from or harvested in ecosystems
• Regulating: the regulation of ecological, hydrological and climate processes
• Cultural: the non-material benefits from ecosystems ( e.g. recreation)

Question 6

What are the benefits of doing ecosystem service analysis?

Answer 6

• Ecosystem services analysis clarifies interests of different stakeholders and it can help to balance competing interests
• ES analysis can be used for land use planning
• ES analysis can be used to compare the costs and benefits of ecosystem management options
• ES analysis helps to raise awareness
• You can support a ES set up a payment for ecosystem services
• Monitoring/ecosystem accounting

Question 7

What is PES?

Answer 7

• PES involves establishing a payment mechanism for an ecosystem service that is not yet traded ont he market
• Aims to compensate providers of the service for the opportunity and ecosystem management costs of providing the service

Question 8

What is ecosystem accounting?

Answer 8

• A systematic framework to measure the contributions of ecosystems to economic activity
• Aligned with the National Accounts
• Includes ecosystem services flows and ecosystem assets
• Includes physical and monetary information
• Information in the form of maps and tables
• Helps to establish sustainable use of ES