What are ecosystem services?
Ecosystem services are the benefits to humans that come from plants, animals and micro-organisms in nature interacting together as an ecological system, or 'ecosystem'. The functioning of natural ecosystems provides '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 fulfilment. Despite receiving these benefits, however, many of the ecosystems that deliver them in Australia are in decline. Growing salinity problems, worsening water quality, continuing tree clearing and increasing greenhouse gas emissions are showing us that many of our ecosystems are under threat.
The full fact sheet is available in Adobe Acrobat format:
Fact Sheet 12 - Riparian Ecosystem Services (facts12.pdf, 607Kb)
Topics covered
- What are ecosystem services?
- Production of goods
- Regeneration services
- Stabilising services
- Life-fulfilling services
- Preservation of options
- Why are ecosystem services important for land and water managers?
- Ecosystem services provided by riparian areas
- Decreased erosion
- Improved water quality
- Healthy ecosystems
- Maintaining biodiversity
- Maintaining river courses
- Decrease in insect pests
- Decreased algal growth
- Maintaining fish stocks
- Increase in capital values
- Shelter effects
- Retention of nutrients
- Lowered water tables
- Denitrification
- Opportunities for diversification
- Recreation
- Cultural and spiritual fulfilment
- Ecotourism
- Categories of benefits derived from riparian ecosystem services
- In summary
- For more information
- References
This Fact Sheet is the twelth in a series dealing with the management of riparian land.
