1. Introduction & Objectives
Our understanding of the underlying biophysical structures and processes that provide ecosystem services is still limited. To disentangle the complexity of interactions between ecosystem properties and service-provision, the concept of Ecosystem Functions, or Functioning, has been introduced and defined as “the subset-of ecosystem structures and processes providing ecosystem services”. Ecosystem functions determine the capacity of the ecosystem to provide services and are present independent from human perceptions or value judgments. Only when the function (capacity) is actually used, or recognized, it becomes part of the ecosystem services paradigm.
Objective: This working group aims to analyze the relations between biodiversity and other ecosystem properties with ecosystem functioning to better understand, and predict, the capacity of ecosystems to provide ecosystem services.
2. Lead Team & Members
- Peter van Bodegom(Chair), Leiden University, The Netherlands
- Edmundo Barrios (co-Chair), Food and agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), Italy
- Patricia Balvanera, Univ. Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
- Isabelle Durance, Cardiff University, United Kingdom
- Piran White, University of York, York, United Kingdom
- Ryan Blanchard, CSIR, South Africa
- Zoe Austin, University of York, UK
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Lead team, please contact the current lead team members.
If you are interested in becoming a member of this Working group, please click here.
3. More Information
For more information about activities and outputs of this working group click on the following link: