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scienceofsustainability · 6 months

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'Consumption and Materialism' Reflective Journal - Part 1

October 24

The things people will buy… On social media today I saw an advertisement for a Sephora ‘advent calendar’. It includes a gift item per day. Days of opening personal care items, probably unnecessary, the wrong color, something a person doesn’t even use as a rule. It’s like going into the store and picking up any random 12 items…and heading to the checkout to pay for them. It’s like buying items for a skin condition that you don’t have, or a replacement product for a trusted personal care item. All separately packed. This makes no sense to me at all. Why would I buy makeup and skin care items that I don’t need or use? Sephora is a popular brand, and for young men or parents wanting to make their girl happy at Christmas time, this may seem like a great purchase. Do we care if they will actually use the 12 items inside? Probably not. Will she even use half of these items? Probably not. But we feel satisfied because we think this is a fun gift idea that she will love. She will probably even be excited when she sees it! But the reality is that the surprise bag of goodies contains mostly useless items that end up in the trash. The Christmas season brings with it the desire and usually the feeling of pressure to purchase things for others, most times unnecessary items, just so that we can buy ‘something’. It’s wasteful and prompts the continuation of such trends or traditions. Commercial business capitalizes on all of this and generates even more products, marketing, and advertising.

Credit - Sephora

October 25

I bought the bell…! My 21 year old daughter asked me to take her to the mall about 20 minutes from our home. At her age, the desire to have nice clothes is an important aspect of life, as going out with friends or to the gym requires looking good. No longer do most people throw on old sweat pants and go out to the garage to workout, many people today go to local gyms, pay membership, and feel the need to wear particular brands of workout clothing and footwear: “You can’t show up in that.” Purchased ‘Pre Workout’ powders are part of the routine too, so one can show up with a serious beverage in hand, and big name headphones waiting to blast motivating music. So as she looks throughout the athletic clothing, I excitedly head over to look at… ahhh, Christmas decor…. It is an exciting time of the year. For me, it is the decorations that I love. I enjoy making the house feel cozy and beautiful. There it all is… so much to look at and choose from. So much in the way of wreaths, blankets, cushions, little houses, signs… all different colors, sizes, styles… Looking at it all creates anticipation for the upcoming season. Some remind me of childhood. Some I look at and question “Who would buy this?” What a waste of hard earned money. Other stuff I love, and wonder how it would fit in my home? Do I need it? No. I have so much already… Does it make the holiday any better? No. Do I have the money to spend on it… maybe… but could that money be spent better somewhere else? Yes. I realize that I am better at talking myself out of purchases now than I was in the past. Even though I probably have more disposable income now than I did ten years ago. Maybe that is why I hold back more?…Maybe I am learning. I do love those gold-colored rustic bells though... And last year when I seen them in Toronto, I felt that I had won the shopping lottery and bought two. Here they are right in front of me, in Sydney no less… I hymn and ha over it and decide to allow myself to get one. I think to myself, ‘some of my Christmas decor is dated, and it’s probably a good idea to add a little bit of new?’ I remind myself that I will have this for many years to come, and someday I may be able to pass decorations on to my grown children. And I resisted choosing anything else to buy… it’s only one thing. After I check out I realize that purchasing something provides a little bit of a boost, a happiness, something to look forward to when I start decorating, to set out, to look at. I can’t wait to show it to my daughter.

Credit - Instagram

October 27

Dollar stores… where were dollar stores years ago when I was young and newly married? We all could have saved a lot of money on things. If my mother were alive today, she would love this store so much. Everything is so cheap, and this store is filled with things that we could easily pay two or three times as much for somewhere else. Dollar stores provide consumers with everything from personal care products, to toys, household necessities, craft supplies, and everything else you could need. How many of us have wondered how in the world these items could be made and then sold for so little money? The materials alone. Then there is the labor, the workmanship making this basket… transportation costs, and wages? How is this only $2? But most of us dismiss that thought soon after, and keep looking for cheap treasures. Buying food here doesn’t seem like a good idea to me at all. There is some reason why all of these items ended up here, and if there is an issue with a food item, then I don’t want it. However, I notice that some people shop the food aisle, and fill their basket with items that are much lower in price than Sobeys. It doesn't matter if I need these right now, but I am always looking for paint brushes so I will grab four or five, since they are only $2 each. By the time I walk through the aisles, I have a few items in a basket. Most of these items I would've bought somewhere else anyway. I found myself picking out a Halloween card for my niece in Ontario… I’ve just spent five minutes looking at the different options, then realize that it is too late to send a card, and that maybe that is not necessary, so I put the card back. When I was young, nobody ever sent me a Halloween card. That really is a crazy idea, probably another way for companies to sell me something. As we purchase these cheap treasures, we are often ignorant of the natural resources that have been sacrificed, and to where these items will likely be in just a few short months. Many of us will fill a bag with donation items this holiday season, to make room for more stuff, and drop it off in the local donation bin. We walk away feeling satisfied believing that it will be reused. The less consumers know, the happier they are.

October 28

It’s the weekend and I need to start housecleaning for the winter season. There is so much stuff in this house it’s a bit overwhelming. The storage room is full. I often can’t find particular items that I need, and I know that I sometimes re-purchase things that I already have. The girls' rooms are messy looking, as too much stuff prevents ‘tidying up’ from really making an impact. They don't think they have too much stuff. They love going to Walmart and the Dollar Store and coming home with new things. Their rooms look fine to them. But I am at the stage in my life where I like it clean, simple, organized. Where do I start? I want to purge so much stuff. As I head to the storage room with bravery, and an attitude that I am going to clear it out, I soon lose my battle…It is so hard to part with things that I may ‘need’, the girls may look for, or that there is a memory attached to… I feel defeated, and these items feel heavy on me. I really thought that I was going to make a big difference here today. I feel disappointed. I lost the battle with our stuff. I remind myself to stay out of the stores…

October 29

“Things you didn’t know you needed”... There is something cool about watching her put it all together. I think of how well equipped my daughter’s car is as I watch the video. I like the idea of being prepared and organized. But do we really need all of that stuff in our car?! Tik Tok shares ‘great Amazon finds’, and some are focused on restocking your car. There are these sweet little car bags that have pretty little items in them, all compact and attractive, looking like you are prepared for anything. It makes you want to buy all of these items and also pack up a neat little bag to store all of your car ‘essentials’, such as lotions, lip balm, a variety of perfumes, deodorant, a migraine stick, are those face masks?... There is a large compartmentalized bag filled with a variety of snacks, drinks, blankets, and everything you can think of. There are more personal care products in that car than in my two home washrooms combined. This advertisement for car organization is satisfying to watch, and you have to admit that some items are cool, like the car window film, and vent sauce holders... Who knew you needed a small diffuser in your car? I end the video realizing that I don’t even have so much as a box of Kleenex in my car.

youtube

October 30

She ‘can’t wait until her Shein order comes in’. I’ve heard these words uttered many times. Shein is a website that my girls like to use to pick out clothing. It is easier to shop online than to find time to head to the mall and walk from store to store looking for items. It can be done here and there in spare time. The added benefit is that you are provided with reviews and photos from other people who purchased the item. Every few months the girls will put an order together. While it may be good that we save gas driving to the mall, and the items are fairly inexpensive, the risk of something not fitting or them not liking and not wearing it, is likely. But the clothes are cheap, so it’s worth the risk to them. Many people order from Shein, and also shop on other sites and at other stores such as Urban Plant, because the clothing is cheap. Cheap clothes means we can afford to buy new items, or more clothing more often. I am aware that this is fast fashion, and that these clothes come from China. I also know that the work conditions of those who make these clothes are probably not equitable. I am aware that these are not quality items, so they will likely end up being donated in a few months. I encourage the girls to go to the mall and look for better quality clothes. Things that will last, and that are basic and not trendy. I have sweaters and pants that I have had for many years. They have served me well. If you spend a good amount of money on an item, but you wear it many times, the cost-per-wearing can be pretty low, and the item serves many years of service.

October 31

What am I going to do with all of these treats? Nine trick-or-treaters showed up tonight. That is it. Although I did not have many last year, three years ago I had about 60. So on the way home from work, I felt that last minute concern that I should stop and get more pop and treats, and prepare more treat bags. When my girls go out in the neighborhood at Halloween, they always come back with these amazing treat bags, with endless treats inside. I wonder how much money my neighbors actually spend on treats. At some level, I have to keep up. When I was a child trick or treating, I would have had to go to a dozen homes to get all the treats that they get in now in one door knock… I shake my head because children really do not need all of this junk food, and I question how we got to this point where the reward is so great for dressing up and knocking on doors. Now I have all of these bags of treats and I wish that I could return the items to the store. It’s a strange game we play trying to be sure that we have enough, worried that we may run out. Only to end up overspending, and stuck with food items that we don’t want, and certainly do not need.

November 2

It’s all very confusing and I feel like none of them are probably safe or nutritious. Yet, I am pushed to purchase the most expensive option, and that big price tag is supposed to help me to feel like it is the best choice. There are so many brands of dog food, and each one claims that it meets the nutritional needs of my dog. Each brand has many options to choose from based on the age and activity level of your pet, so it seems like you're selecting a custom formula. There is even dog food formulated for specific breeds only, with a cute picture of a perfect happy Yorkie on the bag. How many people buy into that? Plenty I bet. What a marketing idea that is. But of course, you should never buy your pet food from a grocery store, the place where you buy your own groceries... That food is not good… No, if you love your pet and are a good owner, you must purchase your pet food at a Veterinarian's office or at a reputable pet store. I’ve been made to feel guilty for not buying my dog food at the vet. Turning them down made me feel like less of a pet parent. Unworthy of a good dog. Our new puppy came with instructions from the breeder to only feed him Royal Canin puppy food. This brand claims that “Each formula has been created to deliver nutrition tailored to your pet’s health needs”. But really, don’t they all claim that? Shouldn’t they all be striving to provide that? Animal health experts often speak out about processed dog food, and claim that its nutritional value is very low because it has been cooked, altering food's chemical structure, and making it difficult for a dog to digest. Yet, the 13 lb bag of brand name puppy food just cost me $102 with taxes paid. As a consumer, I am not sure what else to do, as I try to provide the best for my dog, while also not being fooled into thinking that I actually am…

Theo

November 3

Instagram provides me with daily images of house decor that I love. Simple, clean, cozy rooms with gorgeous throw pillows, lamps, throw blankets… I love it all. And of course, I wonder how I could make my house look more like this. I even find myself snapping screenshots to put in my album ‘Home Decor Ideas’ on my phone. I follow a few decorators on social media, and there is one in particular, I love all of her ideas. Of course that means that I need to change my paint colors, and get a new kitchen table. I’ve gone to local furniture stores looking for something similar to what she has, but I can’t find it. I allow myself this to some degree because I do not spend a lot of money on clothing or anything else, home decor is what I enjoy. But it never really ends. It is a cycle of changing up paint and decor items as the trends change. I quickly tire of patterns, and want something else. What I think will really spruce up a room, only satisfies me for a short time, then I grow tired of it, and want a change. Of course, with each season you need to be ready to change, if you follow social media. They have all of these different things for each and every season. You can’t just have one chunky throw blanket, you need 4 or 5. Presently I am looking for a clay-based lamp and a clay vase or two. The current decor trend is homey, simple, neutral, and organic. I’ve been in plenty of local stores looking for such things, yet can’t find them. Cape Breton is sure behind in the times when it comes to decor! So I go online and find some, however they are very expensive. The sticker shock stops me, and I wonder if it is really a good idea to pay $350 for a single lamp. I tell myself that I don’t really need it, and snap back to reality. Yet each time I see her posts on Instagram, I am drawn in, and making mental notes of a few items that I could add to my decor list.

Credit - Instagram

November 6

‘What do you want for Christmas?’ Now that my three daughters are grown up, I usually ask them what they want for Christmas. I love surprising them with nice gifts, but I certainly do not want to buy anything that they won’t use or won’t like. I have family and friends who go into debt during the holidays just so they can fill a room with endless gifts for their loved ones. I have never been in the habit of buying things just to say that I did. I always try to get them something they’d really like and will use, as well as any new clothing items that they need for the upcoming winter season. In recent years, they don’t even know what to ask for. There is not much they need. But I have to buy them something, so I start looking for options and hope that something good comes along. I often think of the other seasons and wonder if they could use a new lawn chair for next summer’s concert, or if I should start them on collecting necessary items for a future home. I am pretty good at avoiding a lot of the hype about the best new technology, and my goal is not to spend a ton of money. I have always tried to make Christmas about the traditions and the family time. For a number of years now, we have been filling a donation box of clothing and food items to donate to those in need. It is a tradition that they now look forward to, and they put thought into the best food items to purchase to place in the donation box. This is the best gift that I could get for Christmas, seeing them think of and care for others.

November 7

‘It looks like a store in here’... How much camo can a guy have? As I am housecleaning for the upcoming winter season, I walk into the room in which my husband stores all of his hiking and hunting gear. It is overwhelming the amount of things that he has. I can remember when times were simple, and hunters had an orange vest and a rifle. Not anymore. Did you know that it is necessary to have different types of camo for different seasons and animals that you are hunting? Now that we have large scale hunting and fishing stores such as Bass Pro, outdoor activities usually involve expensive gear. No longer do most people make their own ice-fishing tents. Stores sell quick set-up tents with convenient pouches for holding essentials, and viewing holes and windows to look through. Things that used to involve individual creativity, recycling of materials, and people coming together on homegrown projects, have now been replaced with commercial items, and the need for significant money to be spent. Perceived obsolescence means that a person feels pressured to buy these items, and that the old ways of doing things are no longer acceptable. Hearing these outdoor adventurists talk about their hobbies usually involves them discussing items they need to acquire, and the newest item that you can get, not the actual fun that they have while out there doing it. It’s sad that these wholesome activities have been overtaken by commercialism.

Credit - Eskimo Products

Shifting Patterns of Consumption - Part 2

In an effort to reduce my consumption, and to help the planet, there are a few things that I do, and I hope to add many more actions to the list. The first is that I try to use online grocery shopping whenever possible. This helps to reduce point of purchase sales, and helps me stick to the list of things that I ‘need’. I feel that online grocery shopping is time and cost efficient, and allows me opportunity to ensure that I am only adding items to my cart that I will use. Less impulsive purchases also means less waste, and less money spent.

Another thing that I have changed about my habits is that I never put any plastic in the garbage. I always put it in a recycle bag, in the hopes that it will indeed be recycled. I used to put plastic food packaging and other types of plastic in my kitchen garbage. Not anymore. It pains me to see plastic takeout containers thrown in the trash. Plastic bags may have been removed from shopping stores, but many items still come wrapped in plastic, such as wood pellets, frozen food products, some pet food, and a host of other items. If any of these items can be reused or recycled, and I sure hope they can, then I will always do my best to make sure they don’t go out with the trash. I have been encouraging my children and my students to always do what they can to help our planet. Every one person can contribute to an overall impact.

#materialism #environment #ethics #morality #consumerism #overconsumption #recycle #reuse #ecofriendly #homemade

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scienceofsustainability · 6 months

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Annotated Bibliography for Further Reading and Learning

Krishna, M. P., & Mohan, M. (2017). Litter decomposition in forest ecosystems: a review. Energy, Ecology and Environment, 2, 236-249.

This review paper explains that the decomposition of litter in forest ecosystems is very important to the functioning of the ecosystem, and to the process of the recycling of nutrients. ‘Litter’ refers to dead plant material that is detached from a living plant, and also the layer of dead plant material present on the soil surface. The degradation of plant material is crucial for the nutrients to return to the soil. Carbon compounds, nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium are then accessible for uptake by plants. Slow decomposition rates result in the build up of organic matter and nutrient stocks, while fast decomposition rates help meet plant intake requirements. Temperature, rainfall, and seasonal variations may influence the rate of composition, as do the characteristics of the soil and the soil organisms present. The authors explain that the study of litter degradation is significant as there is little information available about litter decomposition rate and the role of all the different factors which affect it. As litter degradation is an important ecological supporting service that allows for the cycling of elements in nature, this review provides important and relevant information to help in the understanding of this process. Both authors of this study are from the School of Environmental Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, 686560, India.

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Chester, J., & Chester, M. (2019). The Biggest Little Farm . Universal Studios Canada Inc.

This documentary follows the successes and challenges of a couple determined to live in harmony with nature on a farm in California. The couple trades city life to start their own farm on a desolate and previously failed farm, with 234 acres of depleted soil, transforming it into a thriving sustainable farm with immense biodiversity. For seven years, they faced huge obstacles, including bad weather, coyotes, and insects. Regardless, they remain steadfast in their commitment to work with nature. Then, their patience begins to pay off, in the complexity of nature and what appears to be the most miraculous of events, as nature takes care of itself. The ecological services provided by the diverse ecosystems are eye-opening and breathtaking to viewers. The Biggest Little Farm is suitable for viewers young and old, and provides an opportunity to inspire conversations and learning about sustainable agriculture, food, soil, and the possibilities of nature. The video is directed by award winning film and TV writer/director and farmer John Chester. He and his wife documented their attempt to work in harmony with the land as they worked tirelessly to create their dream. This documentary introduces some of the big issues facing our planet - sustainability, human interrelationship with nature, and where our food comes from. It provides a fantastic learning opportunity, while sharing a heart-warming story, which is engaging, and fully displays so many of the amazing services that take place in ecosystems all around us while we are not looking.

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Bolund, P., & Hunhammar, S. (1999). Ecosystem services in urban areas. Ecological economics, 29(2), 293-301.

The article describes and analyzes some of the ecosystem services present in urban areas and discusses their importance for the quality of city life. The researchers identify different urban ecosystems and categories of ecosystem services derived by the human populations that live there. By looking at issues that are unique to urban areas, researchers are able to find the best solutions to issues concerning the expansion of cities. For most ecosystem services, the amount that can be produced by ecosystems within the urban area is limited, but the quality of life for urban citizens is improved by locally generated services, such as air quality and noise levels that cannot be improved with the help of distant ecosystems. As cities are expected to grow in the years to come, these findings can hopefully contribute to better planning and use of resources by city officials. A better understanding and appreciation of urban ecosystems for their contribution and value can help with the maintenance and expansion of green spaces. This article helps to point out and explain many of the services that are present in urban areas that may not be fully realized. Both authors of this study are part of the Environmental Strategies Research Group, Natural Resource Management, Department of Systems Ecology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.

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Ecosystem Services & Biodiversity. (2021). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved October 10, 2023, from https://www.fao.org/ecosystem-services-biodiversity/en/

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations strives to make agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable through FAO’s vision for Sustainable Food and Agriculture. This vision is “one in which food is nutritious and accessible for everyone, and where natural resources are managed in a way that maintains ecosystem functions to support current, as well as future human needs”. The organization has an excellent website which provides a wealth of information on Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity (ESB). A background on the missions and goals of the FAO are provided, along with information about best practices and examples. The site provides excellent information and resources regarding management systems, policies, and incentives. The information on this site is relevant to all of the United Nations, making data and information available and easily accessible. A very informative site with many links, it offers current information on many topics and aspects of sustainable living and agriculture.

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David Suzuki Foundation. (2023). https://davidsuzuki.org/

David Suzuki is an Award-winning geneticist and broadcaster, author, activist, and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation in 1990. The David Suzuki Foundation ‘empowers people to take action in their communities on the environmental challenges we collectively face’. Using research, education, empowerment, and policy analysis, the foundation works to conserve and protect the natural environment. They collaborate with individuals, organizations, Indigenous communities, businesses, and all levels of government. The work of the foundation includes the entire country, from research to public engagement activities. The David Suzuki Foundation website is an excellent place to start for anyone who wants to learn more and make a difference. There are so many excellent articles, and up-to-the minute data and information that span from plant-based diets to fossil fuels and healing forests. Educators will find tremendous value in this website as they address such topics in their classrooms. Citizens will have the veil lifted from their eyes as they read about the science behind the world in which we live.

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scienceofsustainability · 6 months

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Ecosystem Services - Services to the World

In this blog, we will have a look at the valuable services provided and the importance of these functions to life for us humans and other living things. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) identified four types of ecological services:

1. Provisioning Services

These are the products obtained from ecosystems and include food, water, timber, fuel, fibers, flowers, shells, and medicines. In many regions, rural households directly depend on provisioning services for their livelihoods.

Food Production

Almost all ecosystems provide conditions for growing, collecting, hunting, fishing, or gathering food. Through a collaboration of food scientists and fishers, farmers, and many other producers, the world produces enough food to feed approximately 8 billion. Food production is one ecological service that has had to increase greatly in recent history in order to keep up. Animal products play a very important role in human nutrition, with livestock providing approximately 30% of our protein intake. Between 15 and 20 percent of all animal proteins come from aquatic animals. Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food producing sectors and provides half of all fish for human consumption.

Freshwater

Ecosystems also play a very important role in supplying clean water for drinking, from filtering to storage. Wetlands such as swamps and floodplains cleanse polluted waters, and recharge groundwater aquifers. Freshwater sources such as lakes and streams also allow for agricultural productivity. Crops are heavily dependent on freshwater as almost 60 percent of all the world's freshwater withdrawals go towards irrigation uses (Ecosystem Services & Diversity, 2021). Forests help maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems and provide supplies of clean freshwater. Through the process of transpiration, a single large tree can release hundreds of liters of water per day into the atmosphere. Not only do forests filter and clean water, they help prevent soil erosion, reduce sediment in reservoirs and lower the risk of floods, things that can threaten downstream water supplies. Forests also improve infiltration rates, helping to recharge underground aquifers.

2. Regulating Services

Ecosystems provide many benefits from the natural processes and functions that make life possible for people. Maintaining the quality of air and local climate, decomposing wastes, providing flood control, and pollinating crops are some of the regulating services provided by ecosystems. These services can be taken for granted as they are not very visible to us.

Pixabay.

Local Climate and Air Quality

Ecosystems influence both local climate and air quality. Landcover can affect both temperature and precipitation (Oguh et al., 2021). Trees provide shade, and forests influence rainfall and water availability, locally and regionally. Trees and other vegetation also play a crucial role in regulating air quality by removing pollutants and chemicals from the atmosphere.

Read more: Ecological Services Also Exist in Urban Areas

Pollination

Pollination by wind and insects is a service that would not happen without nature, and bees in particular.

Seed dispersal and pollination of plants and trees is essential for the development of fruits, vegetables and seeds. Animal pollination is an ecological service mainly provided by insects, but also by some birds and bats. In agriculture, pollinators are essential for orchard, horticultural and forage production. Pollinators such as bees, birds and bats affect 35 percent of the world’s crop production (Ecosystem Services & Diversity, 2021). Food security, diversity, prices, and human nutrition all rely heavily on animal pollinators. But pollination is under stress from factors including habitat destruction and unsustainable agricultural practices. There is a keen interest in helping nature provide pollination services through practices that support wild pollinators, such as encouraging plant diversity, mulching, or the reduced use of pesticides. Natural forests are important habitats for pollinators, providing refuge and food. Wild honeybees will usually chose nesting places in trees rather than in an open landscape, and when enough bees are present in a forest, they provide better pollination which leads to regeneration of trees and conservation of the forest’s biodiversity (Ecosystem Services & Diversity, 2021).

Flood control and soil maintenance

Land cover such as wetlands, croplands, and forests which have the potential to store water, can prevent flooding and soil erosion, while also allowing for recharge of aquifers (Mitsch, 2015, p. 1). Wetlands act as natural sponges, absorbing excess water, drawing heavy rainfall and slowly releasing it during dry periods. Vegetation cover plays a really important role in the prevention of soil erosion and ensuring soil fertility through natural biological processes such as nitrogen fixation. Soil erosion is a main cause of land degradation, loss of soil fertility and desertification (Ecosystem Services & Diversity, 2021).

3. Cultural Services

A cultural service is a non-material benefit that contributes to the development and advancement of people. These services include aesthetic inspiration, cultural identity, and spiritual experience related to the natural environment. Opportunities for tourism and for recreation are also a part of these services. Cultural services can also be connected to provisioning and regulating services, as small-scale fishing for example, is not only about food and income, but also about fishers’ way of life.

Fishing. Pixabay.

Aesthetic inspiration

Most people enjoy the beauty of nature on a scenic drive, watching sunsets, hearing song birds, and walking along hiking trails. The sights, sounds, and scents of nature can have a tremendous effect on our well-being. Many people find peace and therapy in the beauty of nature. Animals, plants and ecosystems have also been the source of inspiration for music, arts, culture, and design, and they inspire science as well.

Recreation

Nature also provides numerous opportunities for recreation, from baseball, horseback riding, swimming, and mountain climbing. These and other forms of play are important in maintaining mental and physical health.

Experiencing and preserving these cultural services, and the aesthetic and spiritual value of ecosystems, allows us to have a deeper appreciation for the wonders of the Earth.

4. Supporting Services

Ecosystems themselves couldn’t be sustained without underlying natural processes such as photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, the creation of soils, and the water cycle. These processes allow the Earth to sustain basic life, whole ecosystems and people. Without them, nothing else would exist.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of living things on Earth. Each species, big and small, has an important role to play in nature. Various plants and animals depend on each other, and this ensures natural sustainability for all life (Oguh et al., 2021). Biodiversity is essential for maintaining the balance of ecosystems and for providing services necessary for human well-being. It can affect services directly, as we get most of our food and fibers from animals and plants. Biodiversity can also have indirect effects through its influence on processes that circulate energy and materials through ecosystems. In this way, it influences services such as pollination and seed dispersal of plants, and regulates climate conditions suitable for humans, plants, and animals. Biodiversity also helps to control agricultural pests and diseases (Oguh et al., 2021). Nutrient and water cycling, soil formation and fertility, are all affected by biodiversity, and are important to the production of food, water, medicines and more.

Our natural resource base and ecological services are the foundation of all food and agricultural systems. With an estimated value of $125 trillion, ensuring the ongoing provision of essential services is critical. Ecological functions need to be supported and sustained, and biodiversity needs to be protected, as changes in biodiversity can influence the supply of ecological services.

Annotated Bibliography for Further Reading and Learning

References

Ecosystem Services & Diversity. (2021). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved October 12, 2023, from https://www.fao.org/ecosystem-services-biodiversity/en/

Mitsch, W. J., Bernal, B., & Hernandez, M. E. (2015) Ecosystem Services of Wetlands. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, 11(1), 1-4. DOI: 10.1080/21513732.2015.1006250

Oguh, C. E., Obiwulu, E. N. O., Umezinwa, O. J., Ameh, S. E., Ugwu, C. V., & Sheshi, I. M. (2021). Ecosystem and ecological services; need for biodiversity conservation-a critical review. Asian Journal of Biology, 11(4), 1-14.

#teaching #science #academia #flowers #plants #environment #ecologicalservices #sustainability #economicvalue #biodiversity #agriculture #regulating

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