Humans and ecosystems

Key points:

• Humans get many benefits from Earth’s ecosystems. These benefits are called ecosystem services.
• There are four types of ecosystem services:
  • Provisioning ecosystem services are the resources that people extract from ecosystems. These include foods and drinking water.
  • Regulating ecosystem services are all the processes that keep ecosystems healthy. These include fungi decomposing waste and tree roots preventing erosion.
  • Supporting ecosystem services are the foundational processes that underlie all life on Earth. These include photosynthesis and the water cycle.
  • Cultural ecosystem services are the ways that ecosystems benefit people’s lives and traditions. For example, many people have a religious or cultural connection to an ecosystem. Ecosystems also provide inspiration, fun, and a sense of well-being.
• A loss of biodiversity can make ecosystems less healthy. This can make it harder for people to get the resources and ecosystem services they need.