ECOLOGICAL VALUE: GOODS AND SERVICES, CONTROVERSY AND IMPORTANCE - BIOLOGY - 2025

The ecological value is the range of criteria by which the quality of an ecosystem states. Such criteria are determined through special matrices that lead to a technique called ecological valuation letter, essential for environmental impact studies.

These matrices are made up of subjective or qualitative values, objective or quantitative values ​​and contrast percentages, applicable to each case study.

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In other words, it is the benefit that natural systems offer, providing a great variety of procedures and conditions that contribute to the sustainability and permanence of man on the planet.

Ecological value can be defined from a general perspective, according to which it is considered as the set of natural assets within an ecosystem; and a specific perspective, which specifies it as the set of resources and processes necessary to replace the natural assets that have been exploited.

An ecosystem is a sum of goods and services that, when provided permanently, are fundamental to the well-being of the human race.

Green goods and services

These services are in charge of controlling the development of the ecosystem resources. These resources are translated into natural products that humans sow and harvest: vegetables, greens, cereals, wood, game and medicines, among others.

In less favored economies, ecological services are essential because they guarantee the sustainability of life. There are fundamental processes that, through their control, forge the ecological and economic competence of an ecosystem, namely:

• The pollination of crops, regeneration and production of biomass that provides raw material and food, seed dispersal.
• The formation and renovation of soils.
• The purification, filtration and detoxification of water, air and soil
• The cycling of nutrients, nitrogen fixation, carbon capture.
• The decomposition of waste.
• The provision of habitat, shelter for animals and plants, storage of genetic material
• The moderation of droughts and floods, regulation of rainfall and generalities about the water supply.
• The reduction of contingencies due to meteorological phenomena and mitigation of storms.
• The moderation of environmental conditions and stabilization of the climate,
• Protection of soils from erosion.
• Regulation and stabilization in the control of pests and diseases.

Controversy over ecological value

There is a great controversy about the ecological value and the estimation that is had of it, since the meaning of this expression is used in many ways and in various contexts.

The points of view are multiple due to the fact that ecological value inevitably guides the administration of resources and the design of action plans.

For some, the ecological value may be refutable from an ethical point of view as it tends to put a “price on nature”.

Prospects for ecological valuation

To try to understand the complexity of opinions that revolve around ecological value, four definitions can be analyzed, decanted from all the forms of thought involved:

• The value seen as the contribution to the achievement of an objective.
• Value as a priority dimension.
• Courage as particular preeminence
• Value as a link.

All of these views lead to very different perspectives on ecological valuation. For example, the ideas of the first two definitions are frequently used for the execution of tactics, incorporating even the value of money.

The specialists in these areas, when designing their strategies, limit the role of the human being in making decisions.

Although these criteria are very useful, they can run the risk of overshadowing alternatives of great social importance, since an individual priority is not necessarily a group priority (for the community).

Regarding the definition of value as a link, it focuses on forms of citizen participation. However, this perspective leaves aside the problem of the true meaning and repercussion of the neighborhood role in the decisions to be taken to obtain benefits.

Although all the options that are used to value the ecosystem stimulate human participation, the supporters of these tendencies must promote reflective behaviors, capable of interpreting the interests of the common good.

Therefore, discussions on environmental value should be promoted to try to arrive at the practical positions and attitudes of citizens in the face of environmental realities.

From active participation, proactive responses should emerge for handling trend-setting situations.

Importance of ecological value

With the current dynamics, the criteria of ecological value and human value have come to have a great force in the administration of the environment. At the global level, there is an interest in promoting plans directed towards ecosystems and their biological diversity.

Within this context, three fundamental principles are handled: recognize, demonstrate and grasp the importance that should be given to nature when making any decision. Internationally, official organizations have built an environment conducive to the recognition of values ​​and the appreciation of nature.

Simultaneously, in the different countries the awakening of interest in natural environments is observed. Policies have been created to create the legal infrastructure for the administration of natural resources in an organized and responsible manner.

Little by little, the propitious climate is being created to make values ​​official and that environmental administration is based on these, however there are differences in the points of view on some concepts, their interpretation, approach, legitimacy and usefulness in each environment and specific case..

The effort put into identifying, quantifying and appreciating the return on the benefits that society receives from nature is the most valuable mechanism for ensuring that ecosystems are taken into account in cost-benefit analyzes.

This constitutes a guideline in economic terms, which will allow adequate environmental decisions to be made.

References

1. Jobstvogt, N., Townsend, M., Witte, U. and Hanley, N. (2014). How Can We Identify and Communicate the Ecological Value of Deep-Sea Ecosystem Services ?. PLOS ONE.
2. Newcome, J., Provins, A., Johns, H., Ozdemiroglu, E., Ghazoul, J., Burgess, D. and Turner, K. (2005). The Economic, Social and Ecological Value of Ecosystem Services: A literature Review. London: Economics for the Environment Consultancy (eftec).
3. Sarmiento, F. (1974). Ecology dictionary: landscapes, conservation and sustainable development for Latin America. Quito: Fernado Vera and José Juncosa.
4. Tadaki, M., J. Sinner, and KMA Chan.. (2017). Making sense of environmental values: a typology of concepts. Ecology and Society.
5. Torres C., G. (2001). Introduction to ecological political economy. P and V Editors.