2.2 Ecosystem Services in Urban Neighbourhoods

• what is an ecosystem?

  geographic area where living communities & non-living environments interact with each other to form a bubble of life
• how are urban neighbourhoods regarded as an ecosystem?

  people are integral parts of ecosystems & dynamic interactions exist between people & other parts of ecosystem, activities carried out by ppl may directly and/or indirectly change ecosystem in positive & negative ways
• example of positive impact of people on ecosystem

  man-made concrete in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park transformed into naturalized river allowing more organisms to thrive in aquatic ecosystem bringing wildlife back into the park, enhancing neighbourhood's biodiversity
• what are ecosystem services?

  refer to benefits brought about by nature to people
• what are the 4 ecosystem services?

  provisioning, regulating, cultural & supporting services
• what are provisioning ecosystem services?

  refer to tangible resources that ppl can get frm ecosystems; food, water & wood
• example provision ecosystem services

  food grown in urban community gardens focused on planting edibles on rooftops at Tampines' HDB blocks
• what are regulating ecosystem services?


  refer to benefits obtained from the regulation of various ecosystem processes
• example of regulating ecosystem services


  climate regulation, disease outbreak regulation & flood regulation
• example of regulating local climate

  trees in Bishan-Ang Mo KIo park lower surface & air temp by providing shade to residents, forests also help cool areas by generating rainfall
• example of regulating water flows

  vegetation cover in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio park can reduce surface runoff by retaining water in soil
• regulating local air quality

  trees/plants in park play important role in regulating air quality by removing pollutants from atmosphere
• what are cultural ecosystem services?

  refer to intangible benefits ppl obtain from ecosystems; aesthetic experiences, educational opportunities & recreational activities
• how does cultural ecosystem services help people?

  activities improve people's physical & mental health & foster social belonging & group identity, thus strengthening their sense of place
• example of cultural ecosystem services

  Bukit Timah Nature Reserve site for students to engage in recreational activities; hiking, educational opportunities (Geo students engage in fieldwork)
• what are supporting ecosystem services?

  refer to services that are necessary for functioning of all other ecosystem services; soil formation, pollination & photosynthesis
• soil formation


  a supporting ecosystem service, ensures that human activies; agriculture can take place, essential for health of all ecosystems as it provides a habitat for billions of organisms, contributes to biodiversity & acts as a water filter
• pollination


  in urban neighbourhoods, animals like wild bees play significant role in crop pollination, vital as it ensures that crops able to reproduce to provide food for animals & humans
• photosynthesis

  plants absorb carbon dioxide & release oxygen, maintains oxygen content of Earth's atmosphere ensuring all other ecosystem services can function