The ecosystem service habitat provision focuses on the functional and structural quality of characteristic riverine and alluvial habitats and their species communities as a basis for multiple human uses. These habitats provide a diversity of animal and plant biocoenoses typical for rivers and floodplains of natural and cultural landscapes under characteristic site conditions. The spatial-temporal interrelated site factors of river-floodplain-systems (hydrology in combination with climate, geomorphology, and soil) are responsible for the provision of habitats and their potential as basic requirements of river-floodplain biodiversity. Different legal regulations protect natural assets and express social appreciation and interest in use. The provided natural assets become welfare benefits of the ecosystem. As the supply of habitats already includes the term of basic function it is not distinguished between provided and used ecosystem service.

Foto: B.Stammel

Picture: B.Stammel