PhotoBase provides a visual overview of nature’s ‘ecosystem services’. Visualisation is critical in capturing the importance of ecosystem services and communicating this to diverse target groups, such as decision-makers and broader civil society. It helps strengthen understanding of the benefits delivered by nature on a daily basis. The content of this photo gallery has been categorized according to the ecosystem functions, goods and services provided by de Groot (2006). PhotoBase is an interactive tool that intends to engage scientists, students and others wishing to illustrate the benefits that humans obtain from natural ecosystems. Therefore, we would like to invite you to actively participate in enhancing PhotoBase with your photos and additions. Please send your photos including a brief description and source to NV&F PhotoBase. We will subsequently upload them to the photo gallery. | Regulation functions | | Maintenance of essential ecological processes and life support systems | Gas regulation | UVB-protection by O3 (preventing disease); maintence of good air quality; influence on climate | Climate regulation | Maintenance of a favourable climate (temp., precipitation, etc) for human habitation, health, cultivation etc. | Disturbance prevention | Storm and flood protection | Water regulation | Drainage and natural irrigation | Water supply | Provision of water for consumptive use - e.g. drinking irrigation and industrial use | Soil retention | Maintenance of arable land; prevention of damage from erosion / siltation | Soil formation | Maintenance of productivity on arable land; maintenance of natural productive soils | Nutrient regulation | Maintenance of healthy soils and productive ecosystems | Waste treatment | Polloution control / detoxification; filtering of dust particles; abatement of noise | Pollination | Pollination of wild plants species and pollination of crpos | Biological control | Control of pests and diseases; reductionof herbivory (crop damage) |
| Habitat Functions | | Providing habitat (suitable living space) for wild plant and animal species | Refugium function | Maintenance of biological and genetic diversity (and therefore also the basis for most other functions) | | Nursery function | Maintenance of commercially harvested species |
| Production Functions | | Provision of natural resources | Food | Hunting, gathering of fish, gam, fruits, etc; small-scale subsistence farming and aquaculture | | Raw materials | Building and manufacturing (e.g. lumber); fuel and energy (e.g. fuel wood); fodder and fertilizer (e.g.krill) | | Genetic resources | Improve crop resistance to pathogens and pests; other applications (e.g. health care | | Medicinal resources | Drugs and pharmaceuticals; chemical models and tools; test and essay | | Ornamental resources | Resources for fashion, handicraft, jewellery, pets, worship, decoration and souvenirs (e.g. furs, feathers, ivory, orchids, butterflies, aquarium fish, shells, etc.) |
| Information Functions | | Providing opportunities for cognitive development | Aesthetic information | Enjoyment of scenery - scenic roads, housing, etc. | | Recreation | Travel to natural ecosystems for eco-tourism and (recreational) nature study | | Cultural and artistic information | Use of nature as motive in books, film, painting, folklore, national symbols, architecture, advertising, etc. | | Spiritual and historic information | Use of nature for religious or historic purposes (i.e. heritage value of natural ecosystems and features) | | Science education | Use of natural systems for school excursions, etc.; use of nature for scientific research |
| Carrier Functions | | Providing a suitable substrate or medium for human activities and infrastructure | Habitation | Living space - ranging from small settlements to urban areas | | Cultivation | Food and raw materials from cultivated land and aquaculture | | Energy conversion | Energy facilities - solar, wind, hydro, etc. | | Mining | Minerals, oil, gold, etc | | Waste disposal | Space for solid wate disposal | | Transportation | Transportation by land and water | | Tourist facilities | Tourism activities - outdoor sports, beach tourism, etc |
All pictures may be downloaded from Photo Base for free, provided the copyrights of the owners are respected. Groot, R. de (2006), Function-analysis and valuation as a tool to assess land use conflicts in planning for sustainable, multi-functional landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning 74, p.175 - 186 |
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