Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services at the CSIR

© CSIR What is biodiversity? Biological diversity – the variety and richness of plant and animal life (from genetic level to ecosystems).

© CSIR Benefits derived from ecosystems Products of ecosystem processes Strong positive link between ecosystem processes and biodiversity Loss of biodiversity strongly linked to reduced ecosystem services Threat to human well-being What are ecosystem services?

© CSIR

ServiceStatus Food crops  livestock  capture fisheries  aquaculture  wild foods  Fiber timber +/– cotton, silk +/– wood fuel  Genetic resources  Biochemicals, medicines  Waterfresh water  Status of provisioning services

© CSIR Status Air quality regulation  Climate regulation – global  Climate regulation – regional and local  Water regulation +/– Erosion regulation  Water purification and waste treatment  Disease regulation +/– Pest regulation  Pollination  Natural hazard regulation  Spiritual and religious values  Aesthetic values  Recreation and ecotourism +/– Status of regulating and cultural services

© CSIR Implications The degradation of ecosystem services could grow significantly worse during the first half of this century and is a barrier to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MA 2005). Reversing ecosystem degradation while meeting increasing demands for their services will involve significant changes in policies, practices, and institutions (MA 2005).

© CSIR Mangrove ecosystem shrimp housing crops Mangrove Services: nursery and adult fishery habitat fuelwood & timber carbon sequestration traps sediment detoxifies pollutants protection from erosion & disaster Decisions about ecosystem services & trade offs

© CSIR Economic case for conservation The total economic value associated with managing ecosystems more sustainably is often higher than the value associated with conversion

© CSIR The ecology of ecosystem services - What ecosystem components are important in the supply of ecosystem services? - How do changes in ecosystems impact on these components and their supply of ecosystem services? Aims to contribute to the ecological understanding of Ecosystem Services in order to promote their management and conservation Informing ecosystem management - How do we apply our knowledge of ecosystems and their services to inform the management of these services? Aims to work with management agencies to promote informed decisions through the use of existing and emerging tools and protocols Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services at the CSIR

© CSIR Reyers et al Van Wilgen et al Ecology of ecosystem services

© CSIR Informing management