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dc.rights.licenseCC-BY-NC-ND
dc.contributor.advisorAppelman, Jaco
dc.contributor.authorVegt, Michelle van der
dc.date.accessioned2022-11-01T01:02:19Z
dc.date.available2022-11-01T01:02:19Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.identifier.urihttps://studenttheses.uu.nl/handle/20.500.12932/43139
dc.description.abstractWithin the last decade, the Earth has become recognized as a coupled social- ecological system, where human activities significantly impact the functioning of the earth system, its ecosystems, and vice versa. Currently, the ecosystem services framework still shows a mechanistic perspective of "nature for people". Based on limited social-ecological integration, this view gives the illusion that humans can exploit and control nature to their benefit via a one-way utilitarian relationship whilst perceiving humanity to be outside the system. Therefore, it is time for a paradigm change within the ecosystem services framework by thinking about social-ecological relationships and dynamics rather than treating planetary and ecosystem processes as separate biophysical systems occasionally perturbed by human activity. This thesis attempts to build a bridge between the social and ecological realms by placing the ecosystem services concept into a living system perspective. Showing through exergy how ecosystems can be viewed as living sys- tems whilst adding a foundational layer to the ecosystem services concept. We intend to increase the knowledge of decision-makers within policy and practice on the basic functioning of ecosystems by explaining how ecosystems have evolved to sustain themselves over time. Where we hope that this foundational layer can be used in the future as guidelines when working with the ecosystem service concept.
dc.description.sponsorshipUtrecht University
dc.language.isoEN
dc.subjectThe concept of ecosystem services is gaining popularity in research, policy and industry. However, ecosystem services theory quantifies and commoditizes life without integrating the mechanisms of living systems to sustain, maintain and reorganize themselves. The current concept of ecosystem services pays no atten- tion to the relationships between services as it has been largely developed with a mechanistic and anthropocentric mindset. To redress this caveat we propose to link ecosystem services
dc.titleLiving System Perspective on Ecosystem Services
dc.type.contentMaster Thesis
dc.rights.accessrightsOpen Access
dc.subject.keywordsEcosystem services; Living systems; Exergy; Organisational exergy; Dissipative structures; Autopoiesis; Ecological services.
dc.subject.courseuuBio Inspired Innovation
dc.thesis.id11702


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