Ecological Engineering and Ecosystem Services – Theory and Practice

Ecological engineering analyzes the flows of energy and matter in ecosystems to clarify the dependence of humanity's productive systems on natural energy sources. It compares the contributions of natural and human systems to product composition and measures: for example, environmental impacts and the carrying capacity of ecosystems. Within this context, the concept of ecosystem services develops and has been used by many scientists to characterize and value continental and marine environments. Ecosystem services can be defined as “the benefits which humans derive from ecosystems” [1] and divided into three categories: regulation and/or support services; provision services; and information, culture, leisure, and religion services. This chapter presents the importance of ecological engineering and the development of ecosystem services, and their importance and applications in different environments and parts of the world.