Ecosystem Services

Question 1

Term: ecosystem

Answer 1

The interacting system made up of all the living and non-living objects in a specified volume of space

Question 2

Term: biological diversity

Answer 2

• Variability among living organisms

- within species, between species and of ecosystems

Question 3

Term: Genetic diversity

Answer 3

the variety of genetic material within a species or population

Question 4

Term: Species diversity

Answer 4

The number of species present in different habitats

Question 5

Term: Ecological diversity

Answer 5

the variety of different ecosystems found in an area or on the earth

Question 6

Defenition ecosystem services

Answer 6

The benefit people obtain from nature

Increasingly associated with monetary value

• biodiversity is a prerequisite for the long term capacity of ecosystems to contribute to human wellbeing
• ecosystem services form the basis for economics and welfare

Question 7

describe the 4 categories

Answer 7

Provisioning

• produced goods, directly life supporting products
• ex timber, food, fresh water

Regulating

• benefits obtained from regulation of ecosystem processes
• ex air quality, pollination, climate regulation (CO2 uptake)

Cultural

• non-material thing obtained from nature
• ex spiritual, cultural, knowledge, inspiration

Supporting

• supports the other services, not directly used by people
• ex photosynthesis, nutrition cycles, soil formation

Question 8

Arguments for economic valuation of ES

Answer 8

Ecosystem services commonly lack a market price or are undervalued, which leads to

• degradation and overuse of ecosystems
• negative social and economic impacts: unsustainable development

Question 9

Arguments against economic evaluation of ES

Answer 9

• risk of commodification
• Some ES not possible to evaluate in monetary terms
• Unethical
• Weakness of the WTP methodology

Question 10

Drivers of biodiversity loss

Answer 10

Indirect drivers -> Direct drivers -> Declines in nature
- Socioculture - Land and sea use - Ecosys conditions
- Institutions - Climate change - Species extinction
- Governance - Pollution risk
- Conflicts - exploitation - Nature for culture
- Epidemics
= values and behaviors

Question 11

What ESA tools can contribute to ES assessment

Answer 11

CBA
- used as an economic perspective to show in monetary terms the value that ecosystem services have for human sosciety (eh WTP)

MCDA
- uses various weighting methods to compare different relevant attributes. This can include ecosystem services, and can thus ba a way to evaluate what these services are worth

Indicators
- can be used to assess and communicate the current stat/quality of the ecosystem and its services