Final answer:
Ecological services are the vital benefits and processes provided by ecosystems, crucial for human survival and the planet's health. Valuing these services is necessary for integrating them into decision-making processes, leading to better conservation and management of biodiversity and ecosystems. Tools like the InVEST system help in quantifying these services for effective policy making.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term ecological services refers to the broad array of benefits and functions that ecosystems provide to humanity. These services ensure the survival of living things, including humans, by maintaining essential processes such as the water cycle, providing oxygen, and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. They are crucial for the healthy functioning of our planet and consequently for human well-being.
Despite their inherent value, there has been a historic tendency to take ecosystem services for granted, which has resulted in environmental degradation. However, as awareness of the importance of these services increases, so does the recognition that we must quantify and integrate their value into public decision-making processes. This can help conserve biodiversity while also safeguarding the ecosystems that perform these invaluable services.
Quantitative tools like the InVEST system have been developed to calculate the value of ecosystem services. Although putting a price tag on natural processes may seem difficult, these market-based evaluations are critical for nature conservation. They help raise awareness and integrate the value of nature into economic and policy decision-making, aiming to maintain the vital services ecosystems provide. As economic pressures and environmental challenges increase, the value of ecosystem services becomes more prominent in the public consciousness.