"Nature’s services will help the younger generation to understand the benefits we gain from ecosystem services, but equally the joy and pleasure they can give us if we treat them with knowledge, respect and wisdom." (WWF)Ecosystem services are the functions of the ecosystem - the living and non-living elements of our natural environment - that benefit humans. The services we receive ‘free’ from nature include: fertile soil for our food to grow in, a comfortable climate that supports human life, clean water to drink, pollinating insects and natural wonders for humans to appreciate. Plants, animals and micro-organisms perform a myriad of tasks that we depend on for our survival and prosperity. Most ecosystem services are impossible to replace with technology.
Scientists place these services into four main categories – supporting, provisioning, regulating and
cultural, although there is considerable
overlap.
Discover
how scientists are trying to work out the value of these vital services to
humankind so that we will protect them. Download the Veld & Flora factsheet on Ecosystem Services here.
LINKS TO THE
CURRICUCUM Grade 10, Life Sciences Strand 3: Environmental Studies, Topic: Biosphere to Ecosystems.
Grade 11, Life
Sciences: Strand 1: Diversity, Change and Continuity, Topic: Biodiversity and
classification of micro-organisms. Strand 3: Environmental Studies, Topic:
Human impact on the environment: Current crises for Human survival: problems to
be solved within the next generation.
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Many articles in past issues of Veld & Flora will be relevant to this topic as understanding
ecosystem services requires a knowledge of basic ecology, which describes the
underlying principles and interactions of organisms and the environment. Some
relevant articles include:
Flower picking on the Agulhas Plain: Seeking a balancebetween economic and ecological sustainability by Heather D’Alton, Veld & Flora March 2014, pages 10–11.
Honey Bee Forage plants: how can you help? by Mbulelo Mswazi & Carol Poole, Veld & Flora June 2015, pages 82–83.
How no-man’s-land is now everyone’s problem: the renowned Cape flora is everywhere in retreat as runaway pine invasions transform the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma mountains by
Richard Cowling, Brian van Wilgen, Tineke Kraaij & Jonathan Britton, Veld & Flora September 2009, pages 147–149.Rooibos: refreshment for humans, bees and wasps by Sarah Gess, Veld & Flora March 2000, pages 19–21.
The ecological economics of fynbos ecosystems by Steven I. Higgins & Richard M. Cowling, Veld & Flora March 1997, pages 4–5.
Wildflower farming on the Agulhas Plain: Should we be concerned? by Martina
Treurnicht, Karen Esler &
Mirijam Gaertner. Veld & Flora September 2010, p 138–139.
Internet reading
Exploring ecosystem-based adaptation in Durban, South Africa: ‘learning-by-doing’ at the local government coal face by Debra Roberts, Richard Boon, Nicci Diederichs,
Errol Douwes, Natasha Govender, Alistair Mcinnes, Cameron Mclean, Sean
O'Donoghue and Meggan Spires. 2012 24: 167 originally published online: 2
December 2011 in Environment and Urbanization.
