Ecosystem Services

There is a strong biophysical science capability (freshwater ecology, freshwater fisheries management, freshwater hydrology, analytical chemistry, soil science, botany, wildlife biology, geology) that could support niche research and product development in each of the three pillar areas. These scientific skills will be developed and branded as “ecosystem services”, an emerging multi-disciplinary field that focuses on measuring and valuing, and then protecting, the services our air, water, and soil systems provide our communities and economies. Ecosystem services include the provision of water and food, control of pests and pathogens, renewal of fertile soil, control of floods, and more. Ecosystem services are now being measured to reflect the fact that ecosystems provide basic services that are not accounted in our current economic or cultural systems. The value of freshwater ecosystems is a good example of this. Fresh water is required to support all life, our forests, fisheries, etc. The value, protection and reclamation of fresh water ecosystems is one part of ecosystem services. The concept extends to all aspects of the ecosystem, soil, land, water, air, flora and fauna.