Table 1.

Ecosystem services, that is, the goods and benefits derived from ecosystems that further human well-being, can be subdivided into four categories.

provisioning	regulating	cultural	supporting
goods produced by ecosystems	benefits obtained from ecosystems	non-material benefits obtained from ecosystems	services maintaining the conditions of life on Earth
fresh water	climate control	spiritual	soil formation and retention
food	disease control	recreational	nutrient cycling
fibres	flood control	aesthetic	carbon sequestration
fuel wood	fire control	inspirational	nitrogen sequestration
biochemicals	detoxification	educational	phosphorus sequestration
genetic resources		communal	pollination
		symbolic	pest control