Ecosystem services

Ecosystem services are “fundamental life-support services upon which human civilization depends,”ⁱ and can be direct or indirect. Examples of direct ecosystem services are: pollination, wood and erosion prevention. Indirect services could be considered climate moderation, nutrient cycles and detoxifying natural substances.
The services and goods an ecosystem provides are often undervalued as many of them are without market value. Broad examples include:

• regulating (climate, floods, nutrient balance, water filtration)
• provisioning (food, medicine, fur)
• cultural (science, spiritual, ceremonial, recreation, aesthetic)
• supporting (nutrient cycling, photosynthesis, soil formation).