ABSTRACT
In the biophysical sciences, there is a significant literature around the contributions of biodiversity and geodiversity to the production of ecosystem services. The literature of environmental and ecological economics now contains much about ecosystem services, including both different approaches to their associated methods. Essentially, most ecosystem services are beneficial flows from nature, even if the productive ecosystems themselves may be in national, institutional or private ownership. Ownership and governance of ecosystem services, as opposed to the physical property that may be contributing to their production, may require a different model if these services are not to fall prey to neglect or competitive overuse. Issues of ownership or other models for governing ecosystem services are clearly then a 'work in progress', as part of the wider transition society must make onto a sustainable path. The journey to an ecosystem-centred future has far to progress. It represents a recontextualising of human lifestyles in sympathy with the supportive capacities of nature.
