An ecosystems approach
The benefits of a healthy natural environment
Nature is essential for human life. Nature provides us with water, clean air, and food and gives us the raw materials for medicines, industry and building. Without natural processes such as pollination or soil formation our crops would not grow and mature. Local parks, wider landscapes and amazing wildlife are all ways that people enjoy nature.
Benefits from nature are the bridge that links the natural world to human well-being. They depend on a healthy environment. The loss of plants, animals and natural systems will affect us all, our economy and our culture. Investing in nature - biodiversity and ecosystems, geodiversity and landscapes - will help to ensure that these services continue to benefit future generations of Scotland's people.
We need to work with nature, rather than against it, to make the most of the benefits it provides. This will mean working together across all sectors in society, because, in nature everything is connected.
An ecosystems approach provides a way of doing this so that the benefits of nature are included in the way we manage the land, water and sea.
How to apply an ecosystems approach
Find ways to improve decision-making to sustain nature's benefits