Ecosystem services

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Nature offers numerous services at no cost, such as recharged groundwater, fertile soil, and biomass from photosynthesis. These "ecosystem services" (ES) provide essential benefits to humanity, including food, water, recreation, and protection from natural hazards. Major studies, like the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, highlight the critical role of biodiversity and ecosystems in human well-being, emphasizing the consequences of losing these services. Diverse authors and scientists explore these pressing issues across various disciplines, each with unique approaches and terminologies. Key questions arise: What does natural capital entail? Which values of nature are significant, how are they spatially and temporally distributed, and how can they be assessed? Can all ecosystem services be quantified or monetized? What measures are necessary to ensure the continued availability of nature's multiple services? This work delves into the complex concept of ecosystem services, offering a framework for analysis and assessment while discussing case studies, particularly from Germany. It targets scientists, practitioners in administrative and conservation fields, business experts, politicians, students, and anyone interested in ecological, economic, ethical, and environmental issues.