Ecosystem Services

We don’t like this term. The planet is more than what it does for humans. But, for when you see it used, ecosystem services refers to:

Vital services provided to humanity, without payment, by the planet - ‘Nature’s unpaid labour’.

Example:

Forests clean air. Wetlands prevent floods. Bees pollinate food.

If we destroy wetlands for development, we lose natural flood protection… and then we pay millions for stopbanks.

Visual idea:

A “receipt” from nature: