Uploaded on 2020-08-05 by Janine Sterner

In and around Hannover/Lower Saxony we have the following Ecosystem Services: Provisional Services: For these I have to look a bit further outside my immediate living area: The region provides agricultral products (food), water supply as well as energy from bio-mass based products as well as wind and solar energy. Regulating Services: In the urban region, parks and forests as well as rivers and lakes help to regulate the local air quality and urban climate. They also moderate extreme heat periods. Habitat or supporting services: The parks/forests and fresh water provide natural and diverse habitats for birds, fish, mammals and insects. There are several nature protection areas supporting these habitats. Cultural Services: The ecosystem within Hannover itself provides a number of cultural services, including recreation, mental and physical health (calming park areas to walk or cycle in; lakes and rivers where you can walk, cycle or do water sports). It is also a tourist attraction, thus benefiting the local economy. In addition, it provides motives as well as as a canvas for different forms of art (theatre, concerts, painting) and for some also a spiritual experience and sense of place/home.