Uploaded on 2017-06-19 by Luke Flanagan

1. Ecosystem services in your living area What ecosystem services do you have in and around your living area? Give at least one example for each of the four types of ecosystem services. a. Provisioning services Food: Ecosystems provide the conditions for growing food. Food comes principally from managed agro-ecosystems but marine and freshwater systems or forests also provide food for human consumption. Wild foods from forests are often underestimated. Image - food production fields in northern London. b. Regulating services Local climate and air quality: Trees provide shade whilst forests influence rainfall and water availability both locally and regionally. Trees or other plants also play an important role in regulating air quality by removing pollutants from the atmosphere. Image - Tree planting and under story growth in central London along the River Thames. c. Habitat or Supporting services Habitats for species: Habitats provide everything that an individual plant or animal needs to survive: food; water; and shelter. Each ecosystem provides different habitats that can be essential for a species’ lifecycle. Migratory species including birds, fish, mammals and insects all depend upon different ecosystems during their movements. Image - Flowering trees in east London which provide a food source for birds and other wildlife. d. Cultural services Recreation and mental and physical health: Walking and playing sports in green space is not only a good form of physical exercise but also lets people relax. The role that green space plays in maintaining mental and physical health is increasingly being recognized, despite difficulties of measurement. Image - London Fields parks provides a space for various types of recreation amongst green space.