Ecosystem services: implications for conservation and development

This review highlights ecosystem services from a global perspective. The Earth holds diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Ecosystems support all life on Earth. Humans derive enormous benefits, directly or indirectly, from ecosystems. Ecosystems provide supporting services, such as soil formation and nutrient cycling; regulating services, such as erosion control and climate regulation; provisioning services, such as water and food; and cultural services, such as recreational and religious values. The global economic value of ecosystem services in 1995 has been estimated to be in the range of US$16–54 trillion yr–1, with an average of US$33 trillion yr–1, while the Gross National Product (GNP) is US$18 trillion yr–1. The total global value of ecosystem services in 2011 has been estimated to be US$125 trillion yr–1. Thus, the total global value of ecosystem services is huge – but still it is an underestimate. At present, however, both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are being destroyed and degraded at an unprecedented rate due to anthropogenic activities. Biodiversity loss leads to loss of ecosystem services, thereby threatening human life. Thus, conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services is a global priority. Landscape approach should be well captured by the doers of conservation. Given the escalating impacts of humans on ecosystems, conservation action is highly and urgently needed to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services and thereby achieve sustainable human wellbeing around the world. Applying integrated biodiversity and ecosystem-services conservation offers a global potential for conserving both biodiversity and ecosystem services. In a nutshell, there is a critical need to protect and restore nature. This is because, “We don’t have Planet B.”