Agroecosystem Health and Services

Healthy ecosystems and agroecosystems are our ultimate goal for the survival both of humanity and all creatures on earth because both natural ecosystem and agroecosystems provide goods and services without which, society would cease to exist. These goods and services range from essential activities such as keeping the environment suitable for life to offering aesthetic pleasure from the simple existence of nature. There are nine key ecosystem services discussed in this chapter: (1) production of ecosystem goods, (2) generation and maintenance of biodiversity, (3) partial stabilization and regulation of climate, (4) mitigation of droughts and floods, (5) pollination of crops and natural vegetation, (6) dispersal of seeds, (7) natural pest control, (8) services supplied by soil and (9) provision of aesthetic beauty and intellectual stimulation that lift the human spirit. Methods of valuing and measuring ecosystem health rely on vigour, organization and resilience. Agroecosystem health branches out from ecosystem services and health, which makes it slightly more difficult to measure. In this chapter, a theoretical basis for agroecosystem management is discussed, with a model for overall agroecosystem health, microscopic management and macroscopic measurement. There is a need for a sound evaluation and potentially a payment policy to stimulate realistic, sustainable managerial function of ecosystems and agroecosystem services and health for the benefit globally.