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Ecosystem Service Markets and Opportunities for Agriculture in Alberta

Ecosystem Service Markets and Opportunities for Agriculture in Alberta

Submitted by Marian Weber

The Value of Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem Services are the benefits to humans from healthy functioning ecosystems. Ecosystem services include products such as food, fiber, energy, and clean water that are consumed, as well as climate regulation and water storage that reduce risks to assets, and habitat for fish, wildlife and biodiversity, clean water supplies and wildlife habitat that healthy landscapes and ecosystems provide humans. As land stewards, farmers can take actions that enhance the value of ecosystem services. Some of these actions are a win-win, and increase soil productivity and improve water management. Others come at a cost. Markets for ecosystem services are a way of recognizing the value of healthy ecosystems provided to society and providing incentives to count those values in land management decisions.