Hydrofracking is a process of natural gas drilling. The purpose of the project in Pennsylvania is to create a clean energy source that’s produced domestically in America (Griswold, 2011). However, with such potential economic growth, there are consequences that affect people who live in close proximity to the production. The ecosystem services that are affected are air and water, including the earth. According to the “Ecosystem Services” (Daily, 1997) article, ecosystem services support life through purification of air and water, generation and preservation of soils and renewal of their fertility, detoxification and decomposition of wastes, and pollination of crops and natural vegetation maintenance of biodiversity. Toxic chemicals are released
…show more content…
Water, sand and chemicals were used to release gas by penetrating the earth, therefore damaging the soil and grassland near digging wells. The waste product from hydrofracking does not decompose, which makes it harmful by increasing levels of dangerous chemicals. Biodiversity's’ such as human and farm animals health are not well maintained. These are specific ecosystems that are damaged by hydrofracking in Pennsylvania. In addition, besides ecosystem services, regulation also needs to be evaluated. The purification of air and water, regulation of human disease and biological control are some crucial functions for ecosystem services. As described in, “The Fracturing of Pennsylvania” (Griswold, 2011) article; hydrofracking contaminates the air and water. It also causes risk for diseases for people living in close …show more content…
Marginal ecosystem weighs the existence of ecosystem services to human development. It is important to understand how much profit can be obtained from the ecosystem before it is destroyed because replication of the original ecosystem is nearly impossible and carry a hefty price tag (Daily, 1997). In regards to the Pennsylvania hydrofracking situation, marginal ecosystem service value is not considered important. This is because before the process of hydrofracking began, the farmland was not necessarily used other than extra space for roaming cows and chickens. In other words, even without the piece of farmland, it would not have had any major impact on the local economy. The hydrofracking company understands this aspect and paid low prices for land. This suggests that the value of the land is of minor importance in comparison to potential economic growth from hydrofracking. Marginal value is low because Amwell township has a small geographic, which mean the need for natural gas is less significant. Hydrofracking produces low marginal income. If abandoned, it does not affect Amwell township if hydrofracking is not available. In other words, marginal value shows that the more available something is, the less valuable it becomes. In this case, hydrofracking exists before
Water, sand and chemicals were used to release gas by penetrating the earth, therefore damaging the soil and grassland near digging wells. The waste product from hydrofracking does not decompose, which makes it harmful by increasing levels of dangerous chemicals. Biodiversity's’ such as human and farm animals health are not well maintained. These are specific ecosystems that are damaged by hydrofracking in Pennsylvania. In addition, besides ecosystem services, regulation also needs to be evaluated. The purification of air and water, regulation of human disease and biological control are some crucial functions for ecosystem services. As described in, “The Fracturing of Pennsylvania” (Griswold, 2011) article; hydrofracking contaminates the air and water. It also causes risk for diseases for people living in close …show more content…
Marginal ecosystem weighs the existence of ecosystem services to human development. It is important to understand how much profit can be obtained from the ecosystem before it is destroyed because replication of the original ecosystem is nearly impossible and carry a hefty price tag (Daily, 1997). In regards to the Pennsylvania hydrofracking situation, marginal ecosystem service value is not considered important. This is because before the process of hydrofracking began, the farmland was not necessarily used other than extra space for roaming cows and chickens. In other words, even without the piece of farmland, it would not have had any major impact on the local economy. The hydrofracking company understands this aspect and paid low prices for land. This suggests that the value of the land is of minor importance in comparison to potential economic growth from hydrofracking. Marginal value is low because Amwell township has a small geographic, which mean the need for natural gas is less significant. Hydrofracking produces low marginal income. If abandoned, it does not affect Amwell township if hydrofracking is not available. In other words, marginal value shows that the more available something is, the less valuable it becomes. In this case, hydrofracking exists before