What is the core function of the ecosystem services identified by the MA?

The core function of the ecosystem services identified by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) is to offer positive benefits from ecosystems. This assessment categorizes ecosystem services into four main types: provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services. Each type plays a vital role in providing essential benefits that contribute to human well-being and environmental health.

Provisioning services include the production of food, fresh water, and raw materials. Regulating services encompass climate regulation, water purification, and disease control. Cultural services provide recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual benefits that enhance quality of life. Supporting services are the underlying processes necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling and soil formation.

By focusing on the positive benefits that ecosystems provide, this understanding fosters a deeper appreciation of natural resources and encourages sustainable practices that promote the health and longevity of both ecosystems and human life. The recognition of these benefits is crucial in informing policy decisions and conservation efforts to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.