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ReefLink Database

Provisioning Services

Provisioning Services

Provisioning services are the products or ecosystem goods obtained from ecosystems, including seafood, genetic and biochemical resources, pharmaceuticals, ornamental resources, and water resources.

CMap

The Aquaculture sector is involved in the raising and production of aquatic animals and plants in controlled environments. Sand production is the process by which calcified coral skeletons and invertebrate shells break down, forming sand which replenishes beaches. Biochemical & genetic resources are the naturally available novel biochemicals and genetic information found in coral reef organisms that can be utilized for animal breeding or development of biotechnology. Contact Uses, such as biological additions, physical damage, and biological harvesting, are activities in which humans create pressures through direct contact with the ecosystem. Culture sectors contribute to the social, emotional, and intellectual well-being of the community. Discharges are the intentional or unintentional distribution of chemicals, debris, or other pollution, into the environment as a consequence of human activities. Economic markets and policies can influence financing and insurance, as well as drive consumer demand for certain types of goods and services. Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from ecosystems . Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. Finfish and shellfish stock are fish (e.g., groupers and snappers) and invertebrates (e.g., lobster, crab, conch, octopus, squid, and bivalves) that are harvested for human consumption as seafood. The Fishing Sector includes the harvesting of fish for food and recreation. The Food and Raw Materials sector includes groups that harvest natural resources from the earth, including agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, forestry, mining, and the oil and gas industry. The Health sector includes groups which provide for human health through medical and social care, and maintenance and disposal of waste. Infrastructural sectors provide the physical, organizational, and technical support for the economy to function, including construction, utilities, transportation, finance, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, and technical services. Landscape Changes are alterations of the natural landscape through human activities, including coastal development, shoreline armoring, impervious surfaces, deforestation, or soil disturbance, which can alter water flow patterns and lead to pollutant runoff into coastal systems. Manufacturing and trade regulations are laws and policies enacted to control production, distribution, and sale of goods and services. Marine products are non-food goods derived from reefs that promote human well-being (e.g, aquarium fish or ornamental resources) and human health (e.g., pharmaceuticals and cosmetics). Mitigation is an effort to lessen or alleviate a burden on persons or the environment caused by some action or offense. Monetary valuation involves methods to quantify the worth of ecosystem goods and services in terms of economic units (e.g. Non-monetary valuation methods are used to quantify ecosystem goods and services in terms of units other than economic ones, such as stakeholder preferences or quality of life. Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics industries are engaged in manufacturing drugs, medicines and related products for human or animal use. The Reef Ecosystem includes a suite of abiotic variables that form the physical and chemical environment. Pressures are human activities that create stress on the environment. Provisioning services are the products or ecosystem goods obtained from ecosystems, including seafood, genetic and biochemical resources, pharmaceuticals, ornamental resources, and water resources. The state of the Reef Ecosystem is the condition, in terms of quantity and quality, of the abiotic and biotic components including physical, chemical, and biological variables. Reef Life is the abundance, distribution, and condition of the biological components of the coral reef ecosystem. Responses are actions taken by groups or individuals in society and government to prevent, compensate, ameliorate or adapt to changes in Ecosystem Services or their perceived value. Socio-Economic Drivers include the sectors that fulfill human needs for Food & Raw Materials, Water, Shelter, Health, Culture, and Security, and the Infrastructure that supports the sectors. Tourism & Recreation sectors operate facilities and provide services for the varied cultural, entertainment, and recreational interests of residents and tourists. Utilities specialize in providing basic services for public use, including telecommunications, water systems, natural gas, electric power, and waste management. Valuation is the process of estimating the worth, merit, or desirability of benefits derived from ecosystems. Water Sectors include those that pertain to provisioning of water for public use, including the drinking water supply, irrigation systems for agriculture, and water for critical services (such as firefighting and hospitals). Water resources reflect the quality and quantity of seawater available for human use, including swimming, navigation, and other uses.

CMap Description

Reefs provide goods and products which benefit a number of socio-economic sectors. Coral reefs play a role in replenishing sandy beaches, as coral and other calcified organisms break down, and reefs form the foundation for many islands. Beaches and swimmable water provide recreational opportunities which drive tourism and recreation. Availability of finfish and shellfish stock benefits the fishing sector, and providing seafood for local restaurants as well as wider markets. Non-food marine products such as aquarium fish or ornamental resources derived from fish, coral, or sponges, are often sold within the aquarium trade or decorative and souvenir trade. Biochemical & genetic resources provide unique research and product opportunities for the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industry, and may provide wild genetic populations to interbreed with aquaculture stock. Many of the same economic sectors which benefit from reefs also create pressures on them through harvesting, as well as contributing to coastal development and pollution. Decision-makers can better understand the value of reef goods through valuation methods. Economic markets, including supply and demand, will influence the value of reef products. Resource use management through designated uses, species protections, and fishing regulations can establish water quality standards, control the amount of potential stock which is actually harvested, or limit harvest of vulnerable taxa.

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