Supporting sustainable livelihoods

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 130 views

Understanding Ecosystem Services: A Key to Sustainable Living

Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from functioning ecosystems. These services are essential for human well-being and can be broadly categorized into four types: provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services. In this article, we will explore which of the given options is NOT considered an ecosystem service provided directly for humans.

What are Ecosystem Services?

Ecosystem services are the various benefits that humans obtain from ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and oceans. These services are essential for human survival and can be categorized into four main types:

Provisioning services: These services provide humans with essential resources such as food, water, and timber.
Regulating services: These services help regulate the environment, including climate regulation, water filtration, and disease regulation.
Supporting services: These services provide the foundation for all other ecosystem services, including soil formation, nutrient cycling, and primary production.
Cultural services: These services provide recreational, spiritual, and aesthetic benefits to humans.

Directly Provided Ecosystem Services

Directly provided ecosystem services are those that are consumed or used by humans directly. These services include:

Clean water: Freshwater ecosystems provide clean water for human consumption, agriculture, and industry.
Clean air: Forests and other ecosystems help regulate the air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.
Fertile soil: Soil ecosystems provide fertile soil for agriculture, which is essential for food production.

Indirectly Provided Ecosystem Services

Indirectly provided ecosystem services are those that are not consumed or used by humans directly but are essential for human well-being. These services include:

Monetary profit: While ecosystems do not directly provide monetary profit, they do provide a range of benefits that can be monetized, such as carbon credits, timber, and ecotourism revenue.

Which of these is NOT considered an ecosystem service provided directly for humans?

Based on the above discussion, it is clear that clean water, clean air, and fertile soil are all directly provided ecosystem services. However, monetary profit is not a directly provided ecosystem service, but rather an indirectly provided service that can be monetized.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ecosystem services are essential for human well-being and can be broadly categorized into four types: provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services. While clean water, clean air, and fertile soil are directly provided ecosystem services, monetary profit is not a directly provided service but rather an indirectly provided service that can be monetized.

References

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005). Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis.
Costanza, R., de Groot, R., Sutton, P., van der Ploeg, S., Anderson, S. J., Kubiszewski, I., Farber, S., & Turner, R. K. (2014). Changes in the global value of ecosystem services. Global Environmental Change, 26, 152-158.
Daily, G. C. (1997). Nature's Services: Societal Dependence on Natural Ecosystems. Island Press.

Further Reading

Ecosystem Services: A Guide for Decision-Makers (2013). United Nations Environment Programme.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (2010). European Commission.
Ecosystem Services and Human Well-being (2005). Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
Ecosystem Services Q&A: Understanding the Benefits of Nature

In our previous article, we explored the concept of ecosystem services and how they are essential for human well-being. Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from functioning ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and oceans. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about ecosystem services to help you better understand the importance of nature.

Q: What are the four types of ecosystem services?

A: The four types of ecosystem services are:

Provisioning services: These services provide humans with essential resources such as food, water, and timber.
Regulating services: These services help regulate the environment, including climate regulation, water filtration, and disease regulation.
Supporting services: These services provide the foundation for all other ecosystem services, including soil formation, nutrient cycling, and primary production.
Cultural services: These services provide recreational, spiritual, and aesthetic benefits to humans.

Q: What are some examples of provisioning services?

A: Some examples of provisioning services include:

Food: Forests and grasslands provide food for humans, including fruits, nuts, and livestock.
Water: Freshwater ecosystems provide clean water for human consumption, agriculture, and industry.
Timber: Forests provide timber for construction, furniture, and other wood products.
Fish: Oceans and rivers provide fish for human consumption.

Q: What are some examples of regulating services?

A: Some examples of regulating services include:

Climate regulation: Forests and oceans help regulate the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.
Water filtration: Wetlands and rivers help filter water, removing pollutants and sediments.
Disease regulation: Ecosystems help regulate the spread of diseases, including malaria and dengue fever.
Air quality regulation: Forests and oceans help regulate air quality by absorbing pollutants and producing oxygen.

Q: What are some examples of supporting services?

A: Some examples of supporting services include:

Soil formation: Soil ecosystems provide fertile soil for agriculture, which is essential for food production.
Nutrient cycling: Ecosystems help cycle nutrients, including nitrogen and phosphorus, which are essential for plant growth.
Primary production: Ecosystems produce primary products, including plants and algae, which are the base of the food web.
Habitat provision: Ecosystems provide habitat for a wide range of species, including plants and animals.

Q: What are some examples of cultural services?

A: Some examples of cultural services include:

Recreation: Ecosystems provide opportunities for recreation, including hiking, camping, and fishing.
Spiritual benefits: Ecosystems provide spiritual benefits, including a sense of connection to nature and a sense of awe.
Aesthetic benefits: Ecosystems provide aesthetic benefits, including beautiful landscapes and scenic views.
Ecotourism: Ecosystems provide opportunities for ecotourism, including wildlife watching and nature photography.

Q: Why are ecosystem services important?

A: Ecosystem services are essential for human well-being and can be broadly categorized into four types: provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services. These services provide a wide range of benefits, including food, water, timber, and recreational opportunities. Without ecosystem services, human societies would not be able to function.

Q: How can we protect ecosystem services?

A: There are several ways to protect ecosystem services, including:

Conservation: Protecting and restoring ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and oceans.
Sustainable land use: Practicing sustainable land use, including agriculture and forestry.
Reducing pollution: Reducing pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions and chemical pollutants.
Supporting sustainable livelihoods: Supporting sustainable livelihoods, including ecotourism and sustainable agriculture.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ecosystem services are essential for human well-being and can be broadly categorized into four types: provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services. These services provide a wide range of benefits, including food, water, timber, and recreational opportunities. By protecting and restoring ecosystems, we can ensure the long-term health and sustainability of our planet.

References

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005). Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis.
Costanza, R., de Groot, R., Sutton, P., van der Ploeg, S., Anderson, S. J., Kubiszewski, I., Farber, S., & Turner, R. K. (2014). Changes in the global value of ecosystem services. Global Environmental Change, 26, 152-158.
Daily, G. C. (1997). Nature's Services: Societal Dependence on Natural Ecosystems. Island Press.

Further Reading

Ecosystem Services: A Guide for Decision-Makers (2013). United Nations Environment Programme.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (2010). European Commission.
Ecosystem Services and Human Well-being (2005). Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.