With a reference to a named global ecosystem, assess the global and local value of its goods and services.

This question is taken from the 2014 Edexcel Pearson Specification. We must first address the type of question, it is a 15 marker, and as such warrants extensive depth as this is the largest question one will sit at advanced level. It also features the singular definitive, so we should only use one named example for our answer, in this case the global ecosystem commonly identified as a Coral Reef. It is a good idea to use breadth, as for which Geography is known, so therefore relating it to both a national and international scale. We should use the traditional essay structure including an introduction to define our assessment, the further paragraphs and the conclusion.

An advanced structure to allow you to achieve the higher tier 1 marks would be the 2005 Millennium Impact Assessment that features provisioning and regulatory services, cultural and supporting benefits.

The structure for each paragraph should be 1) A definition for the proposed section of the eocsystem assessment, a local example and a global example before leading on to the next section. A rigid structure with good use of common English will secure our place in the higher marked bands. My example and paragraph would be as follows:

The Coral Reef biome has significant importance because its high levels of marine biodiversity affects local and global communities daily. Two thirds of reefs are at risk today, including that of The Great Barrier Reef in northern Australia which is disappearing rapidly through human intervention as follows; therefore threatening bot local and global users.

Cultural services are the non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems. On a local scale this is the enriched livelihood of human inhabitants in the area of Queensland and neighbouring towns of Brisbane and Mockay where the coral reefs and it’s wildlife continue to survive in a beautiful state that is historically and culturally woven into localised traditions. Other global benefits that are important for other reasons is that of tourism and scientific research which allow economic growth. Scientists have - since 1980 - constructed a plan to analyse, understand and inform benefactors of coral reefs to ensure their survival (with many areas now being protected); a result of their significance on both a local and global scale.