Ecological inflation: a new paradox in the evaluation of ecosystem services

Ecosystem services define the benefits people derive from ecosystems. However, the connection between these services and the underlying ecosystem processes remains largely unexplored and requires further investigation for sound ecosystem management. Paradoxically, increased use of ecosystem services can enhance social well-being while simultaneously degrading the ecological value of the ecosystem processes that support these services. We define this paradox as Ecological Inflation and describe here its origin, and mathematical properties. In order to illustrate this concept, two case studies are proposed: the role of tourists in the Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal, and the voluntary introduction of dung-beetles in New Zealand. We surmise that Ecological Inflation can be applied for a better understanding of the real correlation between ecosystem services and processes functions towards sound environmental management.