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Ecosystem Services
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Ecosystem services are benefits that society obtains from resources and processes supplied by natural ecosystems. The United Nations 2004 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) formalized the definition of the term “Ecosystem Services.” This term represents four main groups of services provided by natural ecosystems:
- Provisioning services, including food and water
- Regulating services, including flood and disease control
- Cultural services, including spiritual, recreational and cultural benefits, and
- Supporting services, including nutrient cycling that maintain the ecosystems themselves.
Any type of preservation or restoration effort is considered a benefit to those natural environments that provide ecosystem services. During mining and once mining is completed, every effort is made to be able to restore the affected area to an environment that cultivates biodiversity and healthy, self-sustaining ecosystems. Post mining land uses such as fish and wildlife habitats, recreational lands, forest land or pasture can help achieve this important balance.