Topic Introduction

The earth’s ecosystems and the services they provide are essential to all communities around the world.  Without these ecosystems, civilization cannot thrive.  Since the 20^th century, human activity has ever so increasingly affected and changed these ecosystems to meet the growing demand of national development.

Though these developments indeed contributed to the rapid development of nations especially after world war 2, many groups of people and communities also suffered.  The adverse effects of the misuse of these ecosystem services are now being experienced all around the world.  However, before looking into these effects, it is important to understand what ecosystem services are and how they are connected to sustainability. The topic mainly addresses this need.

By the end of this topic, you should be able to:

• Explain the term ecosystem. 
• Enumerate the services that ecosystems provide.
• Classify these ecosystem services based on their socio-economic benefits.
• Enumerate examples of a particular type of an ecosystem service.
• Explain the relationship between ecosystem services and sustainability.

Topic Readings

Required Readings

• Pascual, U., & Howe, C. (2018). Seeing the wood for the trees: Exploring the evolution of frameworks of ecosystem services for human wellbeing.  In Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation (Open Access) (pp. 29-47). Routledge. (Included in the Notebook)
• Module Notebook 1 Download Module Notebook 1

Optional Readings

• Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington, DC.
• Bennett, E.M. & Chaplin-Kramer, R. (2016) Science for the sustainable use of ecosystem services. (Review). F1000Research 2016, 5(F1000 Faculty Rev):2622. (doi: 10.12688/f1000research.9470.1)
• Boyd, J. and S. Banzhaf. 2007. What are ecosystem services? The need for standardized environmental accounting units.  Ecological Economics 63 (2007): 616-626.

Fundamental Concepts

• Ecosystem
• Ecosystem Services
• Assessment frameworks of Ecosystem Services
• Regulating Ecosystem Services
• Provisioning Ecosystem Services
• Supporting Ecosystem Services
• Cultural Ecosystem Services

Video Lectures

Lesson 1.2 - 8 minutes

Note: To view Interactive Video on Lesson 1.2 (SCORM), use Firefox to access and open it.

Self-test Quiz

After viewing video lectures, take 10 minutes now to take the self-check quiz at Online Self-test 1.2.

Activities & Assignments

Online Discussions

Online Forum 1.2- Give a constructive comment on at least two peers’ ideas and try to answer the first two questions in the assignment as a new post.

Instructions:

1. During the first three days of the week, comment on at least two of your peers’ ideas.   Only comment on those peers with two comments or less.
2. During days 4-7, after getting comments from your peers, choose one of the two ideas you proposed. 
3. Post your answers to questions 3.A and 3.B of Assignment 1 as a topic in Forum 3.  Include the description and photo of your chosen forest.
   1. 1. How is the concept of sustainability reflected in your chosen forest’s context?
      2. What are the ecosystem services in your chosen forest?

Topic Summary

This topic introduced the concept of ecosystem services.  It also enumerated the different types of services that an ecosystem provides.  Assessment frameworks were also discussed to relate how these services affect human well-being.  Finally, it discussed the relationship between ecosystem services and sustainability.

Topic Self-review (Optional)

Use the following self-reflection questions as study guide to conduct your self-review for the topic.

1. In my own community, what are the different kinds of ecosystem services that we get from the natural environment?
2. How do these ecosystem services benefit the community? 
3. Are these services being used in a sustainable way? Why or why not?