Ecosystem Services and Co-benefits

While the benefits provided to humans by ecosystems isn't a novel concept, the terms "Ecosystem Services" and "Co-benefits" have gained traction as terms that encompass these benefits. They can vary in scale and the type of benefit that is provided. Read more to learn about different types of ecosystem services and how they connect to Green Infrastructure.

Types of Ecosystem Services

A UN-sponsored effort called the "Millennium Ecosystem Assessment" identified four major categories of ecosystem services:

Provisioning Services: benefits to people that can be taken directly from nature (food, drinking water, timber)

Regulating Services: benefits to people from regulating ecosystem processes (pollination, climate regulation, decomposition)

Supporting Services: services that are necessary for the continuation of other services (nutrient cycling, the water cycle, photosynthesis)

Cultural Services: non-material benefits to people that are gained from ecosystems (recreation, cultural heritage, spiritual and/or religious enrichment)

The Connection between Green Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services

Green Infrastructure utilizes nature in order to provide benefits to humans such as water purification, erosion protection, and stormwater management. Many different types of ecosystems provide ecosystem services to varying degrees. Wetlands, for example, are one example of green infrastructure that provide considerable benefits to humans. Read more about the connection between green infrastructure and ecosystem services here.

Learn more about ecosystem services from this video, produced by the Gund Institute for the Environment at UVM: