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One way to think about the importance of biodiversity is simply to think in terms of natural capital: the roles that genes, species, ecosystems, and ecological processes play in supporting human society and a healthy biosphere. What are benefits provided by biodiversity?

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Answer and Explanation:

Biodiversity composes of different species living in a certain restricted area. It is the variability of living beings in a natural environment, involving all the species on the planet and their genetic material. This variety includes all plants, animals, fungus, and microorganisms living in a certain place, their genetic variability, and the ecosystems these species form.

Ecosystems include all the biotic, physical, and chemical components of nature, continuously interacting and depending on each other. The ecosystem is composed of living and non-living things that interact and depend on each other. These are the biotic and abiotic factors.

Biodiversity, in equilibrium with abiotic factors, provides ecosystem services, which are important for the maintenance of all forms of life, including human beings.

Ecosystem services

When talking about ecosystem services, we are referring to the benefits that ecosystems provide us. There are four types of ecosystem services:

  • Provision or supply:

These are the products obtained by nature to be used or consumed, directly or with previous processing. Among them, we might mention food, clear freshwater, fertile soils, geotic materials, raw materials (that can be used for clothing, construction), renewable fuels, biochemical compounds, pharmacological/medicinal resources, among others.

  • Regulation:

Refers to ecological processes that improve life. Among others, we might mention climate regulation, CO² absorption, water purification, air purification, erosion control, natural disaster avoidance such as flooding, soil fertility maintenance, waste recycling, pests/plagues control, etc.

  • Cultural:

Refers to not the material benefits. Ecosystems provide a recreational place or area to spend time and learn. They provide a spiritual/religious space, are a source of inspiration. Ecosystems are cultural patrimony and the source of scientific knowledge.