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It is a known fact that humans can't survive without healthy environments: the support of different ecosystems and their products. Among the most serious threats to human health and even existence in the 21st century are climate change, ecosystem fragmentation, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation and pollution.

The four main categories of Ecosystem Services were identified in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in the early 2000's in order to set a global framework for the beneficial functions of ecosystems. An ecosystem service is something that is provided by an environment, or an ecosystem, that supports human life, health and wellbeing. http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/index.html

Below you will find examples of different ecosystem services within the four categories. Examples are also presented of conservation efforts that are in place to support the ecosystem services in their delivery of human health and wellbeing outcomes. The examples are of ecosystem services that have gained public attention in global media in the recent past due to severe problems with degradation or loss of the particular service/ecosystem.

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"Products obtained from ecosystems"

California drought http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/18/us/california-rains-and-drought/

Water is one of the most important services provided by ecosystems. Freshwater accounts around 3% of all the Earth's water, out of which 30% is found as groundwater and far less than 1% is found in rivers, lakes and clouds. It is estimated that the minimum water use per day for basic needs is 20l/person and that there are a population of 1 billion people globally who have an access to 5l/day or less (World Water Assessment programme, 2009).

Provision of freshwater is threatened by overuse of groundwater, climatic change and variability, population growth, food production, land use, environmental pollution and water quality as well as water resource management to mention but a few. In the case of California drought, climate change plays a pivotal role and tackling the problem means tackling the greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.livescience.com/51891-why-california-droughts-are-going-to-get-worse.html

There are several programs globally that are trying to conserve water resources o individual level through education http://thewaterproject.org/water_conservation http://waterfootprint.org/en/resources/interactive-tools/personal-water-footprint-calculator/ http://saveourwater.com/

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Ecosystem services "that are necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services"

The decline in the population of pollenating bees http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/17/opinion/spivak-loss-of-bees/

An estimated 15-20% of US food production is dependent on pollenating bees. Intensified agricultural practices can severely decrease the pollination services through the loss of species and those that remain being unable to compensate. Several factors have been presented to be behind the Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder (HCCD), first recognised in 2006, including habitat loss, extreme climate conditions, poor genetics, use of pesticides and parasitic, bacterial and viral diseases. The honeybee population might have reached its boundaries in terms of resilience.

International Business Times lists ways to combat honeybee extinction http://www.ibtimes.com/how-can-we-save-bees-3-possible-solutions-combat-honeybee-decline-1546190

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"Nonmaterial benefits people obtain from ecosystems through spiritual enrichment, cognitive development, reflection, recreation, and aesthetic experiences"

The destruction of the Great Barrier Reef http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/18/world/asia/australia-great-barrier-reef-whc/

Great Barrier Reef is a destination to over 2 million tourists annually. Coral reefs are ecosystems that are exceptionally sensitive to environmental change. It is important to remember that recreational services are not the only ecosystem services that coral reefs provide. Coral reefs are an important part of the overall marine food chains and ecology. The biodiversity of coral reefs is comparable to that of tropical rainforests, many believe even greater than that. A lot of the potential benefit to human health and well-being is yet to be discovered by science. The Great Barrier Reef comprises 10% of all the coral reef ecosystems in the world.

Australian government has set up a framework, Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan that is aimed to protect and manage the great barrier reef from 2015 to 2050. https://www.environment.gov.au/marine/gbr/long-term-sustainability-plan

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"Benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes"

Chennai floods ttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-34992004?SThisFB

The ability of ecosystems to adapt to changing conditions, their resilience, is crucial to human health and wellbeing but also largely dependent on the level of human interference. The efficiency of the regulation services ecosystems provide are affected by poor resilience. When ecosystem functions are not considered in for example urban planning, the inability of the environment to respond to a sudden change in environmental conditions will lead to unexpected outcomes.

In India, urban planning and construction is happening at a rate that's beyond control. Different measures have been suggested to control the floods and the damage they cause in India http://www.sciencelog.net/2015/07/floods-causes-and-control.html

In many other parts of the world different solutions have been adopted to prevent flooding and help the environment to regulate its functions and adapt to extreme situations. http://www.apfm.info/publications/manuals/CapNet%20WMO%20Urban%20Flood%20Management.pdf