Ecosystem Services:a brief overview

Laura A. MeyersonThe H. John Heinz III Center for

Science, Economics and the EnvironmentWashington, DC

George Perkins Marsh – Man and Nature, 1864

Aldo Leopold - A Sand County Almanac, 1949

Fairfield Osborn – Our Plundered Planet 1948

Plato 427-347 BC

The process of environmental change by manPaul Sears (1956)

Ecosystems in jeopardyPaul and Anne Ehrlich (1970)

Environmental Services

The benefits that people receive from well-functioning ecosystems, such as food,

flood control, climate regulation, and recreation (SCEP 1970).

SCEP (1970)

•Pest control•Insect pollination•Fisheries•Climate regulation•Soil retention•Flood control•Soil formation•Cycling of matter•Composition of the atmosphere

Holdren and Ehrlich (1974)

•Maintenance of soil fertility•Maintenance of a genetic library

“Environmental Services”

“Public Services of the global ecosystem”(Ehrlich et al. 1977)

“Ecosystem Services” (Ehrlich and Ehrlich 1981)

“Natures services” (Westman 1977)

Evolution of Terminology

Nature’s Services: Societal Dependence on Natural EcosystemsGretchen Daily (1997)

The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capitalCostanza et al. (1998)

PROVISIONING SERVICES

Products obtained from ecosystems

(food, fresh water, fuelwood, fiber,

biogeochemicals, genetic resources)

REGULATING SERVICES

Benefits obtained from regulation of

ecosystem processes (Climate regulation, disease regulation, water regulation, water

purification)

CULTURAL SERVICES

Nonmaterial benefits obtained from ecosystems

(spiritual and religious, recreation

and ecotourism, aesthetic,

inspirational, educational, sense of place, cultural

heritage)

SUPPORTING SERVICES

Services necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services (soil formation, nutrient cycling, primary production)

Aggregate measures of ecosystem services: can we take the pulse of nature?

Meyerson et al. 2005

Moving forward?

• How will the loss of biodiversity affect ecosystem services? (1981)

• Is it possible to find and deploy technological substitutes for services? (1981)