What are ecosystem services?
Contents
- Theme: What are ecosystem services?
- Ecosystem services - Environmental
- Ecosystem services provided by healthy waterways
- Ecosystem services - Economics
- Valuation of ecosystem services - the contribution of economics
- Farms for the future
- Modelling the benefits gained by enhancing ecosystem services
- Ecosystem services - Social
- Incorporating people's views into the valuation of ecosystem services
- How to reveal our natural assets - communicating ecosystem services
- It's a Wrap: News from around Australia
- New publications
What are ecosystem services?
The functioning of natural ecosystems provide 'services' that are essential for human health and survival. Examples of the kinds of services we receive from nature include water filtration, maintenance of soil fertility,pollination,pest control,and cultural and spiritual stimulation. Despite receiving these benefits, however, the ecosystems that deliver them in Australia are in decline.We need look no further than the growing salinity problems, water quality issues, continuing tree clearing and increasing greenhouse gas emissions to see that many ecosystems are unable to function successfully. The concept of ecosystem services has been seen as one way to address these issues. Instead of asking what do we have to give up in order to have a healthy environment, we ask the question, what do we have to gain by maintaining ecosystem function? This includes asking who benefits from the delivery of ecosystem services? and how can costs and benefits be fairly shared?
From the Editor
Welcome to our first edition of 2002! This edition is focusing on a much talked about, but possibly less well understood topic - Ecosystem Services.By working with Steve Cork and his Ecosystem Services Project Team, we have pulled together an edition of RipRap that provides an overview of what ecosystem services are all about, how different researchers are approaching the topic, and what projects are currently underway in Australia and overseas. I am sure you will find it extremely interesting, and a useful RipRap to 'dip into' whenever someone starts talking about ecosystem services and what it means to them. We also have plenty of information about upcoming courses, new publications and events. The Land & Water Australia Rivers Forum flyer is included and I hope you will be able to make what promises to be an interesting,fun and exciting event.If you want extra copies of the Rivers Forum flyer please do not hesitate to contact me. I hope you enjoy this edition, and I look forward to seeing you at the Rivers Forum in March 2002!!
Download Adobe Acrobat version of What are ecosystem services? (riprap21.pdf 2.7Mb)
Click here to request a printed copy of RipRap, or suggest a theme for future issues.
