Ecological Goods and Services

Ecological Goods and Services, or EG&S, are the positive environmental benefits produced by healthy ecosystems, like clean water. EG&S may also be referred to as ecosystem services, environmental services, natural goods and services and natural capital. The EG&S concept includes market goods produced from ecosystems, like food, fibre and fresh water, the benefits from ecosystem processes, like climate regulation, water purification and pollination and other benefits, like recreation.

Investing in the maintenance of natural lands on privately owned farmlands is a way for society to encourage the continued provision of EG&S. Well-managed agricultural lands provide benefits to society-at-large.

Agriculture is both a beneficiary of and a provider of EG&S. For example, farming's viability depends on ecosystem processes like soil renewal, climate regulation, and precipitation. At the same time, well-managed agricultural lands can provide benefits to broader society like fish and wildlife habitat, scenic views, and purification of air and water through natural processes.

Manitoba is investigating the role of the EG&S concept in the development of future agri-environment policy.

 

 

 

 

Additional Links
 

• Ecological Goods and Services: Estimating Program Uptake and the Nature of Costs-Benefits in Agro-Manitoba  *New*

• Natural Values: Linking the Environment to the Economy (Ducks Unlimited Canada) - Natural Capital and Ecological Goods and Services
• Ecological Goods and Services (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Ecological Goods and Services Resources (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

 

For further information, contact your GO Representative.