The Impact of Climate Change
on Ecosystem Services
1. Understanding Ecosystem Services
2. Effects of Climate Change on Ecosystem Services
3. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
Understanding
Ecosystem
Services
What Are Ecosystem Services?
Definition and Examples of Importance of
Types Ecosystem Biodiversity
Ecosystem services are Services Biodiverse ecosystems
the benefits that humans Ecosystem services tend to provide a wider
obtain from ecosystems, include pollination of array of ecosystem
including provisioning crops, purification of services, contributing to
services, regulating water, climate the resilience and
services, cultural services, regulation, and sustainability of human
and supporting services. recreational societies.
These services encompass opportunities. They
the essentials for life, are vital for human
such as food, water, and well-being and
air quality. economic prosperity.
Valuing Ecosystem Services
Economic Valuation
Ecosystem services have economic value, which can be
estimated through various methods such as market pricing,
cost-based approaches, and stated preference methods.
Valuing these services helps in making informed policy and
management decisions.
Cultural and Social Significance
Beyond economic value, ecosystem services hold cultural
and social significance for communities, influencing
traditions, spiritual practices, and overall well-being.
Global Significance
Ecosystem services are not confined by borders; they have
global significance, emphasizing the interconnectedness of
human societies and the natural environment.
Threats to Ecosystem Services
Land Use Change Pollution and Invasive Species and
Human activities such as Contamination Climate Change
urbanization, agriculture, and The release of pollutants The introduction of invasive
deforestation can lead to the into ecosystems can disrupt species and the impacts of
degradation and loss of their functioning, affecting climate change pose significant
ecosystems, thereby the quality of water, air, threats to the stability and
compromising the services and soil, and diminishing resilience of ecosystems, thus
they provide. the services they offer. affecting the services they
deliver.
Case Studies of Ecosystem Services
The Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest provides a myriad of
ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration,
climate regulation, and biodiversity conservation. Its
preservation is crucial for global climate stability and
the well-being of local communities.
Coral Reefs
Coral reefs offer essential ecosystem services
such as fisheries, coastal protection, and
tourism opportunities. However, they are under
threat from climate change-induced ocean
warming and acidification.
Effects of Climate Change on
Ecosystem Services
Impact on Carbon Capture and Storage
Disruption of Carbon Altered Carbon Cycle Case Study: Forest
Sequestration Changes in temperature and Ecosystems
Climate change can disrupt the precipitation patterns can Forests play a critical role in
ability of ecosystems, affect the natural processes carbon sequestration, but
particularly forests and that regulate the carbon climate change-induced events
oceans, to capture and store cycle, influencing the such as wildfires and insect
carbon, leading to increased capacity of ecosystems to infestations can compromise
atmospheric carbon dioxide mitigate climate change. their ability to store carbon.
levels and exacerbating global
warming.
Impact on Biodiversity and Habitat Loss
Shifts in Species Distribution
Climate change can lead to shifts in the geographic ranges of
species, affecting their interactions and disrupting the
balance of ecosystems, which can have cascading effects on
ecosystem services.
Habitat Degradation
Rising temperatures and extreme weather events can
degrade habitats, leading to loss of biodiversity and
diminishing the capacity of ecosystems to provide essential
services.
Case Study: Polar Regions
The rapid melting of polar ice caps due to climate change is
causing habitat loss for species such as polar bears and
seals, impacting the delicate balance of Arctic ecosystems.
