Ecosystem Services: A Way to Enhance Protection of Human Health & the Environment

Ecosystem services (ES) or the “benefits from nature” is an important ecological and human health concept with significant relevance for EPA’s work.  This presentation will provide an overview of ORD’s ES work, provide examples of how ES can add value to enhance projects, and introduce terminology & tools to operationalize ES concepts in our efforts to enhance protection of human health and the environment.   These read-ahead resources will help you learn more and allow you to get the most from the presentation: •            ORD’s recently updated website on Ecosystem Services: https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/ecosystem-services •            Engineering Forum Issue Paper on ES in Contaminated Cleanups: https://semspub.epa.gov/work/HQ/100000459.pdf •            New 2021 publication, “Synthesis of Two Decades of US EPA’s Ecosystem Services Research to Inform Environmental, Community and Sustainability Decision Making”; https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/15/8249 •            EPA’s Greener Cleanups: https://www.epa.gov/greenercleanups

Impact/Purpose

This is an internal EPA presentation to EPA Region 3's Regional Science Council seminar series. The goal is to introduce concepts of ecosystem services and discuss how they may provide value added benefits to a broad range of on-the-ground projects.  The presentation will also introduce tools and resources for the audience to learn where to turn for more information.  

Citation

Harwell, M. AND B. Mastervich. Ecosystem Services: A Way to Enhance Protection of Human Health & the Environment. EPA Region 3's Regional Science Council seminar, virtual, Virtual, October 05, 2021.