Department of Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences - Sustainable Ecosystem Services in Altered Ecosystems

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Focusing on Essential Ecosystem Services for Human Health and Well Being.

Ecosystem Services, human well
being,and health. W.H.O., 2005.

Our world is daily becoming more crowded, and its people are seeking a higher quality of life. Scientists from a broad range of disciplines are now recognizing that the future health and well being of the people of planet earth depends fundamentally upon the quantity and quality of the goods and services we are able to derive from the ecosystems which occupy the relatively thin fragile veneer of the earth's surface. These findings were recently summarized in the Millenium Ecosystem Assessement (2005).

In a subsequent document entitled Ecosystem Services and Human Well Being, the World Health Organization identified eight essential ecosystem services, which are required to sustain life and human well being. These include:

Food
Fresh water
Fuel (timber, fiber, biomass, manures)
Nutrient & waste managment, processing, & detoxification

Cultural, spritual, & recreational services
Climate Regulation
Biological products
Regulation of infectious diseases

Food, Feed, Fiber, Recreation, Waste Treatment, Biofuels:
All essential ecosystem products and services of human altered landscapes and ecosystems

We invite you to explore the realm of ecosystem services, to discover new opportunities, and, hopefully, to become engaged in creating solutions for a better world.

As a department with strong expertise in both AGRICULTURE and ENVIRONMENT SCIENCES, we are committed to improving the present and future well being of the human race through improved understanding of processes and functions involving biological components, soil, and water in human altered ecosystems. We will focus our considerable expertise in plant genetics and breeding, agroecology, soil science, water and air quality, wetlands, landscape restoration, and nutrient and waste management on discovery of essential processes, restoration of essential functions and improving management of ecosystem services in human-altered landscapes(cropland, grasslands, turf, and sites drastically disturbed by development, construction, mining, and other human activities).

Mined lands, Wetlands, Housing, Major Development.
How do we maintain/restore essential ecosystem services?

Crop Genetics Group uses plant breeding and genomics to improve food security and reduce prices

To compete with farmers throughout the region, Virginia’s agricultural operators depend on the latest crop variety releases to ensure high yields and other desirable traits. Researchers in Virginia Tech’s Crop Genetics Group develop new lines of soybeans, wheat, and barley to raise agricultural profitability and sustainability and, therefore, reduce food prices....read more

Producing Biomass for Biofuel in Virginia

Switchgrass has been widely discussed as a plant which could be used to produce large quantities of cellulosic biomass which could then be treated, and converted into ethanol. CSES may well have been the originator of this idea....read more

Virginia Tech Turf Program 3rd in U.S.

9 July, 2007--In a comprehensive survey of 118 Turf programs across U.S., TurfNet magazine recently ranked Virginia Tech Turf program 3rd in the country. Rankings reflect enrollment, retention and graduation rates, faculty, grants and contracts, departmental budget allocated to turf, and support facilities.