Ask the average homeowner what their yard is worth and their first thought might be to wonder what empty lots are going for in the neighborhood. But a yard is worth more than its value on the real estate market. Yards, like any green space from Columbia to Christchurch are tirelessly and efficiently providing ecosystem services for every living thing on the planet. When the market value of services provided by green space are calculated*, the data show that a typical quarter acre of yard, in effect, generates the following annual income:

Air - $16 Yards regulate atmospheric gases and climate by pulling carbon dioxide out of the air, cycling sulfur and nitrogen oxides, by taking up or giving off water vapor, and by reflecting or absorbing sunlight.

Water - $15 When rain falls in a yard, the force of the raindrops is broken by the plants. Then, as the rain puddles in the soil, it infiltrates cracks and crevices and works its way down to the water table. From the water table, it recharges local streams, maintaining a relatively constant flow of water in the stream even when rainfall varies with the season.

Species - $19 Yards provide habitat for bacteria, protozoa, fungi, plants and animals. For example, a tree will have mites, nematodes, soil insects, bacteria, protozoa and fungi all living in its root zone, helping the tree take up nutrients, feeding off its roots or preying on the animals that do. Ants, spiders and songbirds will patrol the trunk, branches, leaves and twigs looking for plant bugs and caterpillars, and lay in wait for pollinating bees, wasps and flies. Beetles will carve out chambers in the wood and cambium and serve as food for flickers and woodpeckers. Squirrels and birds will nest in its branches. And in the leaf litter at the base, ants, spiders and predaceous beetles will hunt for the mites and springtails that help fungi and bacteria convert the leaves back to nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus for the tree to take up again through its roots. By providing habitats, yards provide the means for hundreds (maybe even thousands) of species to pollinate plants, control pests, cycle nutrients, break down organic waste, and generate genetic diversity.

Soil - $112 Finally, yards are places where soil can be formed. Soil provides plant roots with support, protection, and access to water and nutrients in amounts and forms that can be taken up by the plants. Soil is formed by the action of wind, water, temperature, bacteria, protozoa, fungi, animals and plants on rock. These physical, chemical and biological agents break boulders into stones, stones into pebbles, and pebbles into grains of sand and crystals of clay. Combine sand and clay in various proportions with various amounts of decomposed organic matter and a full complement of microorganisms and invertebrates, and you have soil. It may be hard to imagine, but soil is a scarce commodity. Only 10% of the planet has soils suitable for agriculture, it takes 500 years to make an inch of soil, and common agricultural practices are washing soil away into streams and rivers at the rate of 24 billion tons per year.

In contrast, the same area of land covered by concrete or asphalt does not regulate atmospheric gases or mitigate climate change, does not soften the force of water or aid in its storage in a water table, does not provide habitat for the species that pollinate plants, control pests, cycle nutrients, break down waste or generate new kinds of life, and does not allow for soil formation.

The idea of valuing nature's services this way may seem unusual, because markets haven't bothered to capture these numbers in the past. This wasn't a problem until recently, because there was plenty of nature to cushion the loss of areas that previously supplied these services. However, we are rapidly running out of nature. Since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, natural areas have declined by over 10%. If you find this rate of disappearance high, just consider the rate of urban and suburban growth where you live. As the human footprint on the planet increases, our dependence on the remaining parcels of nature becomes even greater. The challenge will be to figure out how to account for these services in ways that shift markets towards protecting them. To put it in terms most of us are familiar with - Ecosystem Services from your yard, $162. Continued Existence on this Planet, Priceless

-For more information -
Robert Costanza et al. 1997 "The value of the World's Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital" Nature vol. 387. 15 May 1997. p253-260.
National Academy of Sciences Press - http://www.nap.edu/books/030909318X/html/153.html

* figures in this article from Constanza et al. but categories were combined and values rounded off

Bio Regional Quiz : Can you name at least Missouri native edible that ripens this month?

JOB OF THE MONTH - JUNIOR ANALYST; D&R International, Inc.; Silver Spring, MD.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Research energy efficiency & renewable technologies, collect data and perform market trend analysis on Energy Star products, assist in developing Energy Star product criteria, gather data on specific energy issues (ex: product technology, economic/environmental factors), collaborate with team members to develop and present reports & presentations. STATUS: Full-time position. QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelors degree in Economics, Engineering, Environmental Science, Business or other energy-related field; at least one year of related work experience preferred; experience in market analysis required; knowledge of energy technologies a plus; must have strong computer skills (Excel, Access), data collection, statistical, and analytical skills, writing and communication skills. SALARY: Salary commensurate with experience, excellent benefits (health, dental, retirement, education reimbursement, etc). APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Send cover letter, resume and two writing samples to: esjobs@drintl.com.

Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks
NATIVE GARDEN YARD TOURS II - Saturday, July 9 at 10:00. If you missed June's yard tours, here is your chance to see local residents show off their native gardens. For more information, contact: wildonesmo@yahoo.com
BOARDWALK WALKS - Select weekends in June & July from noon to 4pm. Enjoy the scenic Rock Bridge, Devils' Icebox, and free, park-led tours of Conner's Cove.
BATS ON PARADE - Saturday, July 9 (ages 6 & up) and Saturday, July 30 (ages 8 & up), both programs start at 7:30pm. Watch endangered gray bats emerge from Devil's Icebox Cave, learn about bats, and enjoy bat themed activities. For more information call: 449-7400.
GREAT BAT HANGOUT - See bats on display all month long at the Daniel Bonne Regional Library. Special Program on Thursday, July 14 at 6:30pm, Children (ages 4-7 only) will enjoy storytelling, activities & songs (Registration Required, call: 443-3161).
NATURE DETECTIVES - Tuesday, July 12, Thursday, August 11 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Program fro children 3-6 years old and their parents. Devil's Ice Box parking lot, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. Reservations are required for this program. Call 815-9255 - Participation is limited.
JUNIOR NATURALIST DAYS - July 26-29, Tuesday -Thursday from 9am to 2pm and Friday from 8pm to 9:30pm. Experience hiking, caving and nature programs. Conduct a service program and earn a Junior Naturalist Patch. Ages 9-11 only. For more information call: 449-7400

MU Organization Meetings and Contact Information
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS:
http://www.missouri.edu/~jesse105/committees/pages/environmental.htm

RECYCLING COMMITTEE:
882-3091

SUSTAIN MIZZOU:
http://www.students.missouri.edu/~sustainmizzou 882-7116. Next meeting at the beginning of the semester

STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONS ASSOCIATION:
882-7116 Next meeting at the beginning of the semester

Organization Meetings and Contact Information
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, USGS, 4200 New Haven
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Wednesdays 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://peaceworks.missouri.org/
CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or email hendricksonm@missouri.edu for information.
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
COMMUNITY STORMWATER PROJECT: 884-8333 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/PublicWorks/StormWater/cswp.html
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
GREENBELT COALITION: 442-4789 or http://greenbelt.missouri.org Meet 1st Tuesdays, 7 pm, Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org
MISSOURI NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY: npshawth@hotmail.com 2nd Mondays in Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov at 7:00 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd, Columbia, MO.
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 443-0292 or http://mrcn.missouri.org/
PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB: 443-4401 or http://sierra.osage.missouri.org Meet 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Foundation,1107 University Ave
WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.

Answer to Bio Regional Quiz: Blackberries and wild black cherries may be among the most popular Missouri edibles ripening this month. Mayapple fruits and wild plums also ripen and fall to the ground this month.

Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@ missouri.edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.

Interested in an Environmental Career? For information on courses, majors, and careers in the environmental field, contact Jan Weaver at envstudy@missouri.edu, or visit: http://web.missouri.edu/~esiwww/index.html

return to NEWS page

return to HOME page