Ecosystem services
The Problem
Ecosystems are the combination of a biological community of interacting organisms and the environment in which that community exists. Ecosystems provide a range of services or benefits and their effectiveness in providing those benefits varies according to their condition and vitality.
The loss of biodiversity erodes ecosystems, making them less productive and more vulnerable to collapse. All life—including humanity—depends on ecosystem services to survive.
Our Response
By supporting biodiversity, ICaN maintains and strengthens ecosystems, making them stronger, more resilient and more productive, increasing ecosystem service flows. ICaN projects enhance ecosystem services by:
- Expanding the scale, quality, and variety of habitats.
- Protecting ecosystems from harmful impacts, such as pollution in freshwater habitats.
- Using Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) to calculate the economic value of services provided by green and blue spaces (UK NEA).
Types of Ecosystem Services
- Provisioning: food, timber, water supplies
- Regulating: air filtration, flood control, temperature regulation, carbon storage
- Cultural: recreation, education, tourism
- Aggregated benefits: amenity and landscape value
Why It Matters
As the effects of climate change deepen, we are all increasingly dependent on ecosystem services. Healthy ecosystems provide 75% of global freshwater resources (UN Biodiversity). Recognising their economic value helps ensure they are better protected and improved.
Key Stats
“The cost to pollinate our food crops manually in the absence of pollinators would be around $2bn.”
“50% of modern medicines are derived from natural sources.”
“An estimated 869,166 tonnes of air pollution were removed by nature in the UK in 2021, with an annual value of around £2.5 billion.” (ONS)
“The total asset value of the UK’s ecosystem services is £1.5 trillion, according to latest government figures.” (ONS)