Caring for Our Natural Assets: An Ecosystem Services Perspective

This paper examines an emerging perspective that describes ecosystems as natural assests that support human health and well-being. The perspective serves as both a conservation approach and an extension of ecosystem management, involving the connection of ecosystem services to the people who benefit, in some cases with an assigned market value. Forest conservation that considers the supply and delivery of ecosystem services will enhance the health and resiliency of ecosystems, engage and serve a broader public, and attract private investment and leadership in a common effort to safeguard natural systems.