Ecosystem services are the conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that make them up, sustain and fulfil human life. Many of these services are now under threat from human activities. This paper aims to highlight the value that our society derives from Australia's natural ecosystems and suggests several ways that design professionals can utilise these ‘free’ services to foster regional sustainability.
ecosystem services; regional sustainability; water purification; atmospheric cleansing; land decontamination; waste assimilation; climate amelioration; noise reduction; flood mitigation; human health; quality of life.