Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

159 Chapter 7: Nature Nature 1. Introduction The terms ‘nature’ and ‘biodiversity’ are often used interchangeably. Nature is all life on Earth, together with the living systems of which it is a part, for example geology, water and climate. Biodiversity, meaning biological diversity, describes the variety of life forms on Earth. Biodiversity is also multi-layered and includes genetic diversity (the difference between two people), species diversity (the difference between the red squirrel and the grey squirrel) and habitat diversity (the difference between a bog and a calcareous grassland) (NPWS, 2024). Nature and biodiversity are essential to humanity and need to be protected. Without nature and its diversity of life and habitats, our planet would be unable to function properly or provide clean water, clean air, food and raw materials (Topic Box 7.1). Our ability to respond to and prevent future environmental challenges, such as climate change, natural disasters and pandemics, would also be challenged. Nature is also the foundation of the world’s economy. Over half of the global gross domestic product is dependent on materials and services that are delivered by ecosystems. For example, raw materials are needed for industry and construction, and genetic resources are vital for farming and medicine. Spending time in our natural environment and around nature, in our ‘green’ and ‘blue’ spaces, promotes wellbeing (Chapter 14). Topic Box 7.1  Ecosystems Ecosystems are communities of living organisms interacting with each other and their environment (e.g. air, water, rocks and soils). They provide a series of services and benefits for humans. Examples of these services and benefits for humans include clean air and water, food, raw materials (e.g. timber, medicines), opportunities for recreation, such as angling and sea swimming, and a sense of place. These are referred to as ecosystem services, of which three different types exist: provisioning, regulating and cultural (Figure 7.1). Nature and biodiversity play a key role in the functioning of ecosystems and their ability to provide ecosystem services. The value of nature and benefits from ecosystem services extend far beyond that which can be measured in financial terms. Figure 7.1  Examples of ecosystem services that support human society Provisioning services Regulating services Cultural services Crops, soil fertility Livestock Timber Fibre Wild foods (e.g. mushrooms, berries) Fisheries Genetic resources, medicines Fresh water Clean air Pollination Temperature regulation Carbon sequestration and storage Pest regulation Erosion regulation Flood regulation Water purification Air purification Recreation (e.g. swimming, hiking, skiing) Aesthetic (e.g. sceneries) Cultural identity Source: EEA, 2021a