Evaluate the importance of ecosystem management and protection

An ecosystem is defined as a group of organisms and their biophysical environment interact and exchange matter and energy, collectively, they form an ecological system. By identifying the characteristic patters of interaction it is possible to distinguish different types of ecosystem. Many forms and features have been accountable for the destruction of different ecosystems. This has been achieved within the atmosphere-varies in temperature, amount of rainfall; the hydrosphere-closely linked with atmosphere, the atmosphere determines the nature of the water cycle in a particular area; the lithosphere-determines the nature of soils and provides habitats for many of the
Intrinsic Value
Within the biophysical environment every component is reliant upon one another for persistent survival. An example to highlight this principle would be indigenous people scattered throughout the world; e.g Aboriginal people believe they share a symbiotic relationship with the biophysical. This concept is reinforced through their cultural and spiritual beliefs, called the Dreamtime. The Dreamtime is a framework used to govern the ways they live; Aboriginal people have been practising sustainable ecological management for tens of thousands of years. This can be seen in firestick farming, Aboriginals acknowledge through their actions, behaviour and beliefs that they are responsible for the continued existence of their world.

Management and the intrinsic value of ecosystems can lead to potential conflicts amongst users of the ecosystem as there are two opposing views. The two opposing views is the urban society who have the resources to maintain and exploit resources their own benefit and the other which is the more indigenous society that has been maintaining the ecosystem for a long time, e.g Aboriginines - has been tens of thousands of years and have been successful in maintaining the ecosystem.

Heritage values
Heritage values are defined as