What is an ecosystem service? List any four important ecosystem services provided by the natural ecosystems. Are you in favour or against levying a charge on the service provided by the ecosystem?

The benefits and services that are provided by the ecosystem to our mankind are collectively known as Ecosystem Services.

The ecosystem services provided by nature are

• Water for drinking and other purposes
• Primary production of energy
• Seed dispersal
• Pollination for fertilization
• Nutrient cycling and dispersal (Carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle etc.)
• Food crops
• Waste decomposition
• Pharmaceutical raw materials

We can only pay the charge for all these services by handling them carefully and use them in a sustainable way.