It's Hot!

Submitted by Jason DuBose on Mon, 2017-07-10 00:00

I value trees. Sounds simple enough but the exponential value to me is undeniable.  As it heats up this summer, trees provide shade that cool off everything around us. We hear about trees converting CO2 into oxygen but a often overlooked benefit is the shade and general cooling they provide to the concrete and blacktop cities we live in.   Is it the most important ecosystem service... Probably not, but as it heats up today, it sure feels like the most important one to me.  What ecosystem service do you value the most in your watershed and why?

 

 

Comments

Rebecca Chavarria's picture

I love how the importance of trees in urban areas is given as an example of an ecosystem service! It's something that I am sure most people take for granted...At this moment, with my current amount of education on socio-ecological systems, I highly admire the cultural aspect. This may sound simple (seeing as provisioning and regulating services are super important) but I have the closest connection with my home ecological system through recreation, with water activities being my favorite, especially during the summer! Nothing makes me love our system more than being IN it and experiencing it.