In his brilliant reflection on one of the oldest professions in the world, Professor Gedeon Dagan writing in “Water Voices From Around the World” exposes the common ground shared by ancient and modern hydrology.  Dagan notes that “hydrology is intertwined with economy, political and social issues; predictions had a serious impact on the sustainability and well-being of society.”

Increasingly, demands on water must consider maintenance of the resources and processes that are supplied by natural ecosystems. Collectively, these societal benefits are known as ecosystem services and include products like clean drinking water and processes such as the waste decomposition.

Scientists and environmentalists have discussed ecosystem services for decades, their definitions formalized most recently by the United Nations 2004 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. The report grouped ecosystem services into four broad categories: provisioning, such as the production of food and water; regulating, such as the control of climate and disease; supporting, such as nutrient cycles and crop pollination; and cultural, such as spiritual and recreational benefits.

As human populations grow, so do the resource demands imposed on ecosystems and the impacts of our global footprint.  Natural resources are increasingly vulnerable and finite. The environmental impacts of human actions are becoming more apparent – water quality is increasingly compromised, oceans are being overfished, pests and diseases are extending beyond their historical boundaries, and deforestation is exacerbating flooding.

The ongoing challenge of prescribing economic value to nature, for example through environmental banking, is prompting changes in how we recognize and manage the environment, social responsibility, business, and our future as a species.  >Learn More