Scientists map ecosystem services

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 31 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists Tuesday announced a partnership aimed at changing the way governments and policymakers think about nature worldwide.

The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund, and Stanford University say the Natural Capital Project is an unprecedented effort to calculate the economic and other benefits nature provides via so-called "ecosystem services" such as clean water, flood control, and climate regulation.

"This exciting project brings together the expertise of leading field conservationists and a world-class university," said Steve McCormick, president of The Nature Conservancy. "Recognizing that ecosystems should be protected for their intrinsic values, as well as their economic values, will help us prioritize the conservation of the world's natural systems. This, in turn, can help improve the quality of life for people throughout the world."

Ecosystem services can include everything from soil fertility to clean air to pest control -- all essential to human health.

Papers authored by Kai Chan of the University of British Columbia and Rebecca Shaw of The Nature Conservancy are the first to show how ecosystems services can influence the outcomes of conservation planning efforts.

The papers appear in the current issue of the journal PLoS Biology.