Biodiversity is vital
To what extent is biodiversity indispensable to man? Biodiversity offers many benefits, known as ecological services. These services can be subdivided into 4 categories:
Biodiversity is vital for the ecosystem and ecological services it provides.
To what extent is biodiversity indispensable to man? Biodiversity offers many benefits, known as ecological services. These services can be subdivided into 4 categories:
- Provisioning services (food, fibres, wood, genetic resources…)
- Regulating services (climate, water and air quality, flood protection…)
- Cultural services (well-being, recreational activities, spirituality…)
- Supporting services (water cycle, photosynthesis…)
The French IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Committee has a particular expertise in this field. Various brochures have been published that list the ecological services in each ecosystem found in France. Currently, biodiversity is under serious threat from anthropogenic activity. Over the past 50 years, a close on 60% decline in ecological services caused by ecosystem degradation could be measured. Ecological services are environmental assets. It is vital that political decisions focus on the preservation of ecosystems so as to stimulate the services they provide across territories.