The Role of Ecosystem Services in Community Well-Being

Abstract

Natural ecosystems provide services to humans that make life possible. Life, as well as the economy, is dependent upon these ecosystem goods and services (EGS). These ser- vices also contribute to a “good” or “quality life” by influencing the well-being of indi- viduals and communities. Understanding the relationships among EGS that contribute to and shape well-being is an important task for researchers, decision makers and policy makers. In the past, these relationships were almost completely dependent upon income and consumption of goods. Today, the relationships are based on a more holistic percep- tion including environmental and social attributes. The importance of ecosystem services to community well-being and their interactions are described through examples of com- munities’ perceptions of the importance of various attributes of well-being and the role of ecosystem services in defining public health.