【People's Education Press】High School Geography: Elective Course III - Understanding Nature Through the Hidden Value of a Tree: The Starting Point of Ecosystem Services

We are accustomed to viewing nature as a vastraw materials warehouse, believing forests represent only timber and rivers only water sources. However, from a geographical perspective, nature is not merely a collection of isolated resources—it is a complexlife-supporting system.

The Tree’s ‘Hidden Ledger’

According to ecological economics estimates, a 50-year-old tree may have negligible timber value. But when its ecological functions are quantified, the results are astonishing:

Oxygen Production: Worth approximately $31,000. It is not only essential for biological respiration but also vital for maintaining stable atmospheric composition.
Air Purification: Absorbs harmful gases and reduces particulate matter, valued at around $62,000.
Water Conservation: Captures rainfall through roots and leaf litter, valued at about $37,000.
Biodiversity Support: Provides habitat for countless insects and birds—the value of this 'support service' is approximately $31,000.

The Holistic Nature of Services

Natural services are not random gifts—they form a systemic, closed-loop mechanism. From tangible mineral supply to intangible aesthetic enjoyment, this comprehensive, irreplaceable provision system is the logical foundation for the continuity of human civilization.The starting point of natural services is the fulcrum of civilizational survival.

QUESTION 1

Which of the following values in the 'Tree's Value Ledger' falls under nature’s 'regulating services'?

Providing timber for construction

Absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen

Providing nesting sites for birds

Generating revenue from forest tourism tickets

QUESTION 2

Why is nature considered the 'only foundation' for human survival?

Because all human production activities are essentially secondary processing of natural energy

Because modern technology can fully replicate all natural functions

Because natural resources are infinite and inexhaustible

Because only rural areas depend on the natural environment

QUESTION 3

What does it mean that a 50-year-old tree’s ecological service value far exceeds its timber value?

We should stop all timber harvesting

Market prices often fail to reflect the true ecological cost of natural resources

Older trees have lower economic value

Ecological protection and economic development are completely opposed

QUESTION 4

Based on course content, which of the following is NOT a function of natural environment services?

Provisioning Services

Regulating Services

Financial Derivative Services

Cultural Services

QUESTION 5

Beijing’s ‘South-to-North Water Diversion’ project addresses water scarcity—what key feature of natural resources does this highlight?

Quality Characteristics

Spatial Distribution Imbalance

Infinite Recyclability

Aesthetic Experience

Integrated Inquiry: Human-Environment Relations and Resource Utilization

Deep Analysis Based on the Mechanism of Natural Service Functions

Read the case study on a tree’s value ledger and regional resource disparities. Nature is the foundation of human survival and development. Humans not only obtain food, fresh water, timber, and various minerals from nature—but also enjoy high-quality air, favorable climates, and recreational and aesthetic experiences provided by nature.

1. Draw bar charts (Figure 1.12a) showing total water resources and total water supply for Beijing and Hubei, along with pie charts (Figure 1.12b) depicting water supply structures. Describe the main differences in water supply structures between the two regions and their causes.

Answer:
Differences: Hubei’s water supply relies mainly on local surface water, resulting in a relatively simple structure; Beijing’s water supply is highly diversified, with non-traditional sources (such as reclaimed water and South-to-North Water Diversion water) making up a large share. Cause: Hubei is located in a humid southern region with abundant surface water; Beijing lies in northern China, where baseline water resources are extremely limited, requiring technological solutions (reclaimed water) and inter-regional projects (water transfer) to meet the needs of its large population and economy.

2. Is the environmental pattern of 'pollute first, clean up later' an inevitable stage in regional socio-economic development? Use facts to support your view.

Answer:
It is not an inevitable process. Although many developed countries historically went through this phase (e.g., the London smog events), modern emerging regions can leapfrog by adopting advanced technologies, directly deploying clean energy, and implementing green entry policies. For example, certain ecological industrial parks in China were designed with circular economies from the outset, avoiding the high costs of post-destruction recovery seen in older industrial cities. This shows that with scientific planning and environmental foresight, we can avoid the peak of the Environmental Kuznets Curve.

3. [Deep Analysis] Using the tree’s value ledger, explain what logical consequences arise if humans over-extract provisioning services (e.g., logging) while neglecting regulating services?

Answer:
The logical consequence is a 'break in the service chain.' Overlogging leads to loss of forest regulating services (carbon sequestration, temperature control) and supporting services (soil and water conservation), triggering climate anomalies, soil erosion, and rapid biodiversity loss. Ultimately, once-free natural regulation must be replaced by massive human investment in artificial solutions (like building flood barriers or air purification systems), with social costs far exceeding short-term gains from timber harvesting.