CHAPTER 3.1 Services from Natural Ecosystems

Benefits of Natural Ecosystems  Ecosystems offer a wide variety of benefits to humans (and the biosphere in general)  Some benefits: BenefitExample 1. CulturalRecreation, spiritual 2. ProductsLumber, food, medicine 3. EnvironmentalModerates climate, provides oxygen 4. EconomicJob opportunities, tourism 5. OtherErosion reduction, flood prevention

1. Cultural Benefits  Include recreation, aesthetic, education and spirituality  Ecotourism- travel/tourism based on natural areas  Example: Niagara Falls

 Examples of Cultural Benefits:  some people go to a lake to enjoy fishing (recreation)  The beauty of leaves changing colour (aesthetic)  Nature walks to learn about birds (educational)  Yoga in the parks to reduce stress (spiritual)

2. Products  Every day we use products from ecosystems:  Plants give us food, wood, medicine, fabrics, etc  Animals give us leather, bones, oils, etc  Lakes/oceans give us seafood  Aboriginals rely on resources from the environment

Some Common Products ProductOriginal SourceUse LumberTreesConstruction Maple syrupMaple treesFood RubberTropical treesTires, latex gloves WaxesPalm leavesCosmetics HennaPlant extractsDyes

3. Environmental Benefits  Producing Oxygen  Oxygen is made in photosynthesis  Moderating Climates  Plants absorb carbon dioxide  Carbon dioxide traps heat  Changes in carbon dioxide affect the climate (reduces global warming)  Filtering Pollutants  Some plants act as a filter for air and water

4. Economic Benefits  Forestry  More than 65% of Ontario is covered with forest  Provides people with jobs  Makes $11 billion/year  Eco-tourism  Tourism in an area also creates jobs  Example: hotels, restaurants, tour guides

5. Other Benefits  Ecosystems protects us from threats like erosion and flooding  Roots anchored in the ground reduce erosion  Plants absorb surface water so it doesn’t flood