Government of Kerala
Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems. These services can be categorized into four main types:
- Provisioning Services: These are the products obtained from ecosystems, such as food, water, timber, and fiber.
- Regulating Services: These are the benefits that ecosystems provide by regulating natural processes, such as climate regulation, flood control, disease regulation, and water purification.
- Supporting Services: These are the services necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services, such as soil formation, nutrient cycling, and photosynthesis.
- Cultural Services: These are the non-material benefits that people obtain from ecosystems, such as spiritual and recreational benefits, cultural heritage, and aesthetic values.