Ecosystem Goods and Services of Flinn Park - Essay Example

A Report on Ecosystem Goods and Services of Flinn Park A Report on Ecosystem Goods and Services of Flinn Park Flinn Park is located on Quinpool Rd, West End, Halifax. Flinn Park has a perimeter of 570m. In addition, the park has an area of 960m2 and a distance to the sea of 36m. (See map below). (A Map of the Flinn Park Adapted from https://foursquare.com/v/flynn-park/4c042dd00d0e0f47939e039a) Flinn Park is one of the few properties set in the background of nature’s beauty. The view of the sea and the green spacious gardens sums up the natural beauty of Flinn Park. It is not surprising, therefore, that I chose Flinn Park for my report because of its biodiversity, proximity to the sea, large enough area and that it gets direct sunlight. (See photograph below. ( A photo of one of the Gardens at Flinn ParkAdapted from https://foursquare.com/v/flynn-park/4c042dd00d0e0f47939e039a) Ecological goods and services are all the benefits that we enjoy from ecological functions of healthy ecosystems (Posthumus et al 2010). There are four standard categories of ecological goods and services; provisioning services, cultural services, habitat services and regulating services. Flinn Park has all the four categories of ecological goods and services as shown in the table below Provisioning Services Cultural Services Habitat Services Regulating Services Water Food Genetic Resources Raw Materials Ornamental/ Decorative resources Medicinal Resources Recreation Aesthetics/Beauty Spiritual Experience Inspiration for culture and art Cognitive Development Genepool Protection Nursery Service Climate Regulation Air Quality Regulation Erosion Prevention Biological Control Soil Fertility Maintenance Soil Fertility Maintenance Moderation of Disturbance A. Provisioning Services 1. Water Being just thirty-six meters from the sea, Flinn Park has plenty of water. The water at Flinn Park has many uses. During the dry season, the Flinn Park caretakers use water to irrigate the park and keep it. The water at Flinn Park provides visitors with an excellent opportunity to swim in nature. I argue that it is more adventurous to swim in a park than in a confined swimming pool. In addition, both the locals and visitors at Flinn Park enjoy the beauty of the large water landmass of the sea nearby the park. Locals and visitors also enjoy drinking the natural water that is free from chemical contamination at the park. The nearby large water mass of the sea provides a cool breeze during the day. The breeze from the sea is warm at night, and it reduces the effects of the warm temperatures at night. Therefore, Flinn Park is a safe destination for tourists. Tourism boosts the local economy. Local industries around Flinn Park also use the water for industrial production. The large water mass of the sea close to Flinn Park creates a microclimate around the park. Because of the local climate created by the sea, local people at Flinn Park experience frequent showers that keep the vegetation at Flinn Park green throughout the year. Visitors also enjoy sporting events like boat riding with the water at Flinn Park. The water also provides the best sceneries for photo taking. 2. Food Given the fact that Flinn Park is just thirty-six meters from the sea, it is not surprising that both locals and visitors enjoy the delicacy of seafood. Seafood has plenty of proteins, minerals, and vitamins. In addition, seafood has very low quantities of sodium and cholesterol. Seafood also boasts of low calories and an addition to many meals. Many experts in postnatal care recommend seafood as a reliable diet for infants. The seafood has nutrients essential for proper mental and physical development. There are also orchards in Flinn Park that provide locals and visitors with different varieties of fruits. Fruits are an excellent source of vitamins. Vitamins boost our immunity, that is, our ability to fight and fend off diseases and disease-causing organisms. Because of the diet of the fruits, both the locals and visitors of Flinn Park spend less money on their healthcare. Local people around Flinn Park also take advantage of the excellent climate to produce horticultural products for local consumption. In addition, the proximity to the sea boosts the local fishing industry (Arthington et al 2010). Tourists can also enjoy beautiful sceneries of fish just from the water. 3. Genetic Resources Genetic resources are genetic material of known or of potential value. Genetic material is any material of animal, plant or microbial origin that contains information about inheritance. Examples of genetic materials include materials of plant, animal or microbial origins such as materials with medicinal value, agricultural crops and animal breeds. Flinn Park with its expansive biodiversity has no doubt many genetic resources. Some species of plants at Flinn have medicinal value although there has not been full extraction of the potential of the plants because of the ease availability of pharmaceutical drugs. Birch trees, for instance, are some of the best herbal diuretics. Extractions from the birch trees remove fluids without affecting the mucosa of the urinary system (Burkhard et al 2012). In addition, the herbs from birch trees are efficient detoxifiers. The herbs clean the urinary system preventing the body from ailments such as gallstones and kidney disease. The birch extraction is a slimming agent. The birch, can, therefore, be used to fight obesity. Fishes that are found in the sea just thirty-six meters from the Flinn Park provide excellent genetic for researchers doing study on fisheries. The findings from such studies are crucial to improving food security not only for the local population but also for the nation at large. The local orchards also provide genetic materials for agricultural research. Studies conducted on such fruit types like apples result in quality and quantity output. 3. Raw Materials There are many natural resources in Flinn Park and its environs. Many stakeholders use the natural materials as raw materials for different purposes. Engineers use trees like Hardwood Pine in making telegraph poles and railway sleeper’s tools. Hardwood pines also find their use in papermaking. Some people use the birch trees as plywood. The birch trees also make excellent pieces of art ware and furniture. Rocks, especially the sedimentary rocks are used as concrete in construction engineering. Artists also carve rocks into beautiful pieces of art. Some types of rocks make good decorations for building. Factories use the water at the sea close to Flinn Park for various industrial processes. 4. Ornamental/ Decorative resources The rocks and sands around Flinn Park have found their use for decorative purposes. Most of the natural resources around Flinn Park are in themselves natural decorations. Some artists shape different woods into body ornaments. 5. Medicinal Resources As discussed under the genetic resources, there are many medicinal uses for the various genetic materials found at Flinn Park. The birch trees are just good examples in provision of solutions to ailments like obesity, hypertension and kidney diseases. B. Cultural Services 1. Recreation Flinn Park provides recreational services to its locals and visitors alike. The sea beaches are excellent holiday destinations for tourists both foreign and local. The gardens in the park provide shade and cool breezes to visitors and locals. The abundance of waters around Flinn Park provides excellent swimming opportunities for both visitors and local people. In addition, there are many sporting events conducted in water. The sports include boat riding and water skating. 2. Aesthetics/Beauty Set close to the sea and between beautiful landscapes, the aesthetic value of Flinn Park cannot be overstated. Local people and visitors enjoy the beauty of Flinn Park. In addition, the beautiful scenery of the sea provides further beauty to the Flinn Park and its environs. 3. Spiritual Experience The quiet setting of the gardens at Flinn Park is very reassuring. There is no doubt that one finds themselves closer to their spiritual selves when sitting in the gardens of Flinn Park. Both visitors and locals also say private prayers under the silence of the sea. 4. Inspiration for culture and art The setting of Flinn Park gives artists an inspiration for their work. Flinn Park itself looks like a fine piece of art. In addition, Flinn Park is rich with culture of the local people of Halifax. 5. Cognitive Development Sitting in Flinn Park and enjoying the beauty of one the gardens in the park, one has a feeling of mental rejuvenation. It is like taking a super bill. I, therefore, argue that those who interact with Flinn Park develop higher cognitive abilities because of the beautiful scenery. In addition, sports like swimming and children play in the park increase cognitive abilities of the participants. C. Habitat Services 1. Gene Pool Protection The gene pool is all genes found in a given population. The Flinn Park provides protection to its gene pool. The protection of the gene pool ensures continuity of all species. The sea close to the Flinn Park provides protection to many species of fishes and sea living organisms. The gardens in Flinn Park provide protection to various species of plants and insects. 2. Nursery Service Flinn Park provides excellent ground for children’s play. In addition, many kids tour the area to enjoy its beauty either with their parents or their respective schools. D. Regulating Services 1. Climate Regulation Flinn Park and its environs create a local climate because of the sea and the vegetation around. The sea provides a cool breeze during the day and a warm breeze during the night. 2. Air Quality Regulation The vegetation around Flinn Park provides excellent air regulation. Trees release oxygen into the air and take up carbon dioxide. The process leaves the environment cleaner than it was it was with fresh air. 3. Erosion Prevention The trees and vegetation in Flinn Park prevent soil erosion through their network of roots. Trees also prevent the rain from direct hitting to the ground thus preventing loosening of the soil that would ultimately lead to soil erosion. 4. Biological Control The interaction of various ecosystems at Flinn Park provides excellent Biological control. The fish in the sea prey on potentially dangerous organisms. In addition, certain species of insect prey on harmful insects like mosquitoes and other pests. 5. Soil Fertility Maintenance The falling leaves from the vegetation around the Flinn Park replenish the soil with its natural nutrients. The cool shades provided by the vegetation in the garden also provide an excellent environment for the propagation of organisms that fix nitrogen ion the oil (Yapp and Thackway 2010). 6. Moderation of Disturbance Disturbance in geology is the type of faulting or folding that has the potential to affect a large area. The interaction of the vegetation, soil and the rocks at Flinn Park moderates the disturbance. The moderation of disturbance prevents soil erosions on large scales and incidences like landslides. A Recommendation on how to Improve the Ecological Goods and Services at Flinn Park The ecosystem at Flinn Park is not perfect. Both locals and visitors have the responsibility to take care of the large water body around Flinn Park. The local authorities should draft laws that restrict the use of the water for industrial activity (De Groot et al). In addition, the industries should not release wastes in the large water body. There should be measures to increase the acreage of the area under the cover of vegetation. The initiative could be in form tree planting days, that is, days set aside specifically for planting trees. Medical researchers should also invest more time and resources in the search for more medicinal values of the tree species found in the local area. Trees like birch might be holding cures to many ailments whose cure is still a mystery. The number of people present at Flinn Park at any given time should also be regulated. Such measures, if well executed, reduce the stress on the resources at Flinn Park. Bibliography Yapp, G., Walker, J., & Thackway, R. (2010). Linking vegetation type and condition to ecosystem goods and services. Ecological Complexity, 7(3), 292-301. De Groot, R. S., Alkemade, R., Braat, L., Hein, L., & Willemen, L. (2010). Challenges in integrating the concept of ecosystem services and values in landscape planning, management and decision making. Ecological Complexity, 7(3), 260-272. Posthumus, H., Rouquette, J. R., Morris, J., Gowing, D. J. G., & Hess, T. M. (2010). A framework for the assessment of ecosystem goods and services; a case study on lowland floodplains in England. Ecological Economics, 69(7), 1510-1523. Burkhard, B., Kroll, F., Nedkov, S., & Müller, F. (2012). Mapping ecosystem service supply, demand and budgets. Ecological Indicators, 21, 17-29. Arthington, Á. H., Naiman, R. J., Mcclain, M. E., & Nilsson, C. (2010). Preserving the biodiversity and ecological services of rivers: new challenges and research opportunities. Freshwater Biology, 55(1), 1-16. Read More