2007 ABC Nature

The Importance of Ecosystems.Ecosystems are communitiesof living things and the

environmental features that supportthem. Ecosystems are essential to humanlife, providing us with innumerable andinvaluable services.These Ecosystemservices are the goods and services derivedfrom natural and managed ecosystems uponwhich human welfare depends, and includeeverything from clean air and water to foodand fuel.

The Decline of Ecosystems.Unfortunately, ecosystems are in declinearound the globe.According to the 2005Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a reportby the United Nations EnvironmentProgramme, some 60 percent of theecosystem services that support life onEarth are being degraded and/or used upfaster than they can be replenished. Inaddition, by 2050, the amount of per capitaarable land in the US will have decreasedfrom ~1.6 to 0.7 acres per person whilesimultaneously, the US population isprojected to increase 25%.

Ecosystems and Agriculture. Untilrecently, the predominant view ofecosystems in this nation's agriculturalregions was one that stressed commodityproduction. Broader perspectivesencompassing the full range of ecosystemsand ecosystem services were rare.Thatview is changing. Ongoing research,coupled with the effects of naturaldisasters, has increased awareness of theimportance of ecosystems, the servicesthey provide, and the ways in which we aredependent on them.In order to protect our critical ecosystemsand sustain the benefits, we mustovercome several challenges.

DI V E R S I F Y I N G EC O S YS T E M S.Challenges: Intensively managed agricultural landstypically feature fewer species and habitat thannative or unmanaged lands.This need not be thecase.

Proposed Solution: Recent studies at the KelloggBiological Station Long Term Ecological ResearchProgram in Michigan show that managing forenvironmental benefits does not necessarily meanmanaging for lower yields. For example, maintaininginsect diversity can help repel pests such as thesoybean aphid now invading the Midwest.

PR I C I N G EC O S YS T E M SE RV I C E S.Challenges:While ecosystems provide an array ofcritical services, these services typically do not passthrough markets and hence have no market basedprices. Consequently, owners of the ecosystemslack the incentive to protect them.

Proposed Solution: Establishing markets forecosystem services (e.g., carbon credits) givesowners the proper incentives to protect theecosystems.

LAC K O F PO L I C Y SU P P O RT.Challenges:While multiple programs exist tosupport the production of agriculturalcommodities, relatively few support otherecosystem services.

Proposed Solution: Conservation Reserve Program(CRP) and the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP),have helped maintain and enhance ecosystems andtheir services. Because programs likethese support farmer incomeswhile fostering ecosystemservices with the potentialfor doing so withoutdistorting trade, theypossibly comply withWorld TradeOrganization(WTO)constraints (i.e.,they arepotentiallyGreenBox

Plants

Soil

Air

Pollination

Bacteria

Animals

Water

A G R I C U L T U R E , B I O L O G Y A N D C O N S E R V A T I O N

T H E A B C S O F H O W N A T U R E S E R V E S T H E N A T I O N

A G R I C U L T U R E , B I O L O G Y A N D C O N S E R V A T I O N

T H E A B C S O F H O W N A T U R E S E R V E S T H E N A T I O N

compliant) and can become an important elementin WTO negotiations.As such, governments areexploring the options for supporting farm incomethrough payments for ecosystem services asopposed to traditional payments based on crops,yields, acres and prices.

Nadine LymnDirector of Public Affairs

Ecological Society of America1707 H Street, NW, Suite 400

Washington, DC 20006Phone: 202-833-8773, ext. 205

www.esa.org

Tamara WagesterExecutive Director

The Council on Food,Agricultural and Resource Economics

900 2nd Street, NESuite 205

Washington, DC 20002Phone: 202-408-8522

www.cfare.org

Karl M. Glasener Director of Science Policy

American Society of AgronomyCrop Science Society of AmericaSoil Science Society of America

900 2nd St., Ste. 205Washington, DC 20002Phone: 202-408-5382

www.asa-cssa-sssa.org/

PROT E C T I N G EC O S YS T E M S

We can improve the flow of ecosystem servicesto support our health and welfare while

providing food, fiber, and energy to an ever-growing world population. Options include:

Expanding interdisciplinary research thatexplores ways to increase diversity of agro-

ecosystems without sacrificing yield;

Establishing markets through which ecosystemservices or their proxies can be bought and sold(e.g., carbon credits, water quality credits) and

thus giving owners a way to capture income andan incentive to protect the ecosystems; and

Supporting pre-existing conservation programsand crafting social policy that assigns ecosystem

owners the responsibility of maintainingecosystems and their associated services.

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E C O S Y S T E M S P R O V I D E

I N VA L UA B L E S E RV I C E S . AM O N G

OT H E R T H I N G S, T H E Y

Clean and store fresh waterMaintain air qualityRegulate climateMitigate floods and runoffPrevent erosionMaintain soil productivityStore and recycle nutrientsAbate noisePollinate cropsMaintain biological and genetic diversityProvide recreational opportunitiesSupply habitatsProvide medicines and pharmaceuticalsAnd, of course, provide food, fiber and energy