Ecosystem services : Biodiversity and nature provide countless benefits for humans

Urbanization and intensive farming tap and fragment the natural environment
Animal and vegetable species are hemmed in and fragilised
Their survival depends on a continuous network of corridors and reserves of biodiversity :
- green grid
- blue grid
- brown grid
- black grid
These grids also offer considerable benefits to humans
"In an agricultural surrounding, hedges provide many ecosystem services (mettre à la ligne avant hedges)"
They limit the erosion of the soil. They protect cultures from the wind. They host a fauna useful to agriculturers. They reduce the spread of pesticides. They provide local firewood
A natural stream, connected with areas devoted to overflows, reduces the risk of floods. Its meanders and trees on its banks improve the water's quality
It offers a natural area favorable to recreation education, observation, relaxation. Wetlands also are highly useful. They absorb an excess of water in case of flood, make up reserves of water in times of drought, purify water thanks to their plants.
Reduce the greenhouse effect by sequestering carbon into the soil. Forests too are carbon sinks and provide a number of services. They produce wood are valued in the picking season and for leisure time.
"In urban areas also nature plays an important part". The soil absorbs and sifts rainwater
It enables us to grow fruit and vegetables. In town vegetation improves people's living environment
fights against the "urban heat island" effect, cools down the town's temperature
Light pollution affects us. The day/night cycle is essential to sleep and health
and enables us to watch the starry sky.
"Healthy biodiversity is the essential infrastructure that supports all forms of life on earth,
including human life." Cristiana Pașca Palmer, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity"
- 23%: percentage of land areas which have undergone a reduction in their productivity due to soil degradation
- over 75%:
percentage of global food crop types that rely on pollination
- 235 to 577 billion US dollars:
annual value of global crop output at risk
due to pollinator loss
- 70%: proportion of cancer drugs that are either natural or synthetic but inspired by nature
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), 2019"
Let's all be actors to restore and preserve this essential, interconnected living fabric!
A film of Syndicat Mixte d'Aménagement du Bassin de la Bourbre in partnership with Agence Régionale de la Biodiversité en Île de France, Agence de l'Eau Rhône Méditerranée Corse,
Institut de Formation de l'Environnement, the European Union.
Chief editor: Jean-Claude PARDAL
Head of project: Claire JEUDY
With the participation of Marc BARRA and Jonathan FLANDIN
of Agence Régionale de la Biodiversité en Île de France
With our thanks to photographers
Yann BAILLET - FLAVIA APE, Pierrette CHAMBERAUD, Ludovic JULLIEN,
Jean-François NOBLET www.noblet.me, Renald PASCAL - APIE, Mélanie SILLON HUGON - APIE
and to the whole team of bigbang communication.