Ecosystem services facts for kids

Ecosystem services are the amazing things nature does for us for free! Think of them as gifts from the natural environment that help humans survive and thrive. These services provide us with important resources and support our lives in many ways.

What are Ecosystem Services?

Nature works hard to keep our planet healthy. These natural processes are called ecosystem services. They are like the helpful jobs that ecosystems perform.

• Clean Air and Water: Nature helps clean the water we drink and the air we breathe. Forests and wetlands act like giant filters.
• Flood Control: Healthy ecosystems, like forests and wetlands, can soak up lots of water. This helps prevent floods and protects our homes and towns.
• Pollination: Many plants, especially those that give us food, need pollination to grow. Bees, butterflies, and other animals help move pollen from one flower to another, which is vital for our crops.
• Protection from Disasters: Nature can also help protect us from natural hazards. For example, coastal mangrove forests can reduce the impact of big waves.
• Pest and Disease Control: Some animals in nature eat pests that harm our crops. Healthy ecosystems also help control the spread of diseases.
• Climate Regulation: Forests and oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the air. This process, called Carbon sequestration, helps control the Earth's climate.
• Beauty and Fun: Nature also provides us with beautiful places to enjoy, like parks and forests. These places offer beauty, cultural value, and a sense of peace.

Why are Ecosystem Services Important?

Understanding ecosystem services helps us see how much we rely on nature. It's like realizing that the Earth is providing us with free services that would be very expensive or impossible to replace.

Scientists at places like Stanford University are studying how ecosystems provide these valuable goods and services. The idea of ecosystem services is similar to thinking about "natural capital" – meaning nature's resources are like a bank account that provides us with benefits.

Protecting Our Natural Gifts

In 2005, a big study called the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment looked at how we use nature's services. It found that about 60% of these services were being used in a way that was actually harming or destroying them. This means we are using up nature's gifts faster than they can be replaced.

It's important to protect these natural services because our well-being depends on them. When we protect nature, we are protecting ourselves and our future.

Images for kids

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  Honey bee on Avocado crop. Pollination is just one type of ecosystem service.

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  Upland bog in Wales, forming the official source of the River Severn. Healthy bogs sequester carbon, hold back water thereby reducing flood risk, and supply cleaned water better than degraded habitats do.

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  Social forestry in Andhra Pradesh, India, providing fuel, soil protection, shade, and even well-being to travelers.

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  Detritivores like this dung beetle help to turn animal wastes into organic material that can be reused by primary producers.

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  Sustainable urban drainage pond near housing in Scotland. The filtering and cleaning of surface and waste water by natural vegetation is a form of ecosystem service.

See also

In Spanish: Servicios del ecosistema para niños