Uploaded on 2015-11-11 by laszlo_sandor

![Miercurea Ciuc][1] The city of Miercurea Ciuc and The Sumuleu, pictures found at: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Cs%C3%ADkszereda.jpg **a. Provisioning services:** - Food: The ecosystem in my area offers good condition for growing vegetables such as: wheat, potato, carrot, pumpkin, onion, parsley, haricot - just to mention my grandma's backyard, but these are the local vegetables found in every household. In the forests we can find wild fruits, such as: rosehips, cranberry, blueberry, raspberries, strawberries - just to mention a few. A popular fish in our area is the trout. - Raw materials: The ecosystem in my area provides wood, to mention a few types characteristic to my region: pine tree, walnut tree and oak tree. These are used as construction materials and in some cases as fuels. - Fresh water: In my area we have many springs of fresh water, which are bottled and consumed by everyone. The water running from the tap is also fresh water from a nearby water reservoir. ![enter image description here][2] The dam which provides the city with fresh water, in Frumoasa. Photo found on: https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sz%C3%A9pv%C3%ADzi-v%C3%ADzt%C3%A1roz%C3%B3#/media/File:Cs%C3%ADksz%C3%A9pv%C3%ADz1.jpg - Medicinal resources: Many plants are used as traditional medicines in my area. To name a few: Dandelion root with hepatoprotective effect, stripped willow bark for fever, peppermint, nettle, mistletoe for high blood pressure, et cetera. According to an expert in this field from my area, Macalik Ernő, in the region 100-120 types of medicinal plants can be found. **b. Regulating services:** - Local climate and air quality, Carbon sequestration and storage, Moderation of extreme events and Erosion prevention and maintenance of soil fertility: are all taken care of with the nearby forests and trees in the city center as well. ![enter image description here][3] Bird's eye view of the city's center. Photo taken from this video, which presents my city: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M0S8hEexjM - Pollination: The honey from Harghita is very famous, because here the air pollution is very low and we have so many bees working for us, providing us with a healthy pollination. - Biological constrol: Because the area is not densily populated by cities, the habitat of the wild animals was not affected so much. This is a huge benefit, because many birds, bats, flies, wasps and frogs can be found in the city too maintaining a healthy environment. **c. Habitat or Supporting services:** - Habitats for species: The habitat of the animals was not perturbed, because the city is not extended into the wild. In the nearby villages people put old tires on the lightining posts, so storks can construct easily their nests. In the city there is a Dendrological Garden, which is protected, because it is a local habitat for the animals. **d. Cultural services:** - Recreation and mental and physical health: The city of Miercurea Ciuc is located in the valley of the Harghita mountains and provides many different landscapes for sports and outdoor activities. In the winter we can ski on the nearby mountains or skate on the lakes. In the spring you can go trekking on the flowery fields, in the summer your can hike in the shadow of the pine forest, in the autumn you can bike around the city and its outskirts. ![enter image description here][4] Hiking on the Mountains of Harghita. Photo from: http://madarasihargita.hu/wp-content/gallery/vasalt-maszoosveny/4.jpg [1]: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Cs%C3%ADkszereda.jpg [2]: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/hu/thumb/7/71/Cs%C3%ADksz%C3%A9pv%C3%ADz1.jpg/1280px-Cs%C3%ADksz%C3%A9pv%C3%ADz1.jpg [3]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14472329859881771.jpg [4]: http://madarasihargita.hu/wp-content/gallery/vasalt-maszoosveny/4.jpg