1.4 Our relationship with nature
We depend on nature. Without nature, we cannot fulfill many of our basic needs. Fortunately, the earth provides us with all kinds of eco-system services. What’s extra special is that we don’t have to pay for those services. It’s all free.
Top-notch service and free too….
Below you can see the different components of Eco System Services.
- Clean drinking water
- Food
- Clean air
- Energy; solar, wind and water
- Fertile soil on which to grow our food
- Pollination of fruit crops
- Degrading toxic substances
- Protection against pests and diseases
- Countering erosion
- H2O balance
- Protection against weather extremes
- Climate balance and thus a livable habitat
- Reuse of nutrients (nutrients).
- Photosynthesis
- Wood and building materials and raw materials
- Aesthetic environment, beauty
- Wellness and relaxation
- Promotion of mental and physical health
Help nature help us
Nature helps fulfill many of our needs, only we are asking for far too much right now.
If everyone would live as we do in the Netherlands, we would need over 3.5 earths (some say even more). We don’t have that, which is why now is the time to take steps and deal with our earth differently. This means planning differently, managing differently, using differently. If we repair what we have damaged, then nature can continue to take care of us.
Watch the video below that beautifully articulates our relationship to nature: Nature is Speaking with Julia Roberts.