Depending on nature: ecosystem services supporting human livelihoods

Humans rely on ecosystem services to provide food, water, shelter, medicines and cultural inspiration. Ecosystems also regulate our climate. However, the biological diversity that delivers these services is being lost and the livelihoods of millions of people around the world are also deteriorating.

Stopping the decline in ecosystem services is a major global challenge and a requirement to achieve sustainable development. Many activities already take place to prevent ecosystem degradation. Governments have made political commitments to natural resource governance, including Agenda 21, the Kyoto Protocol and the Millennium Development Goals. Financial assistance is increasing, although this is still missing a link to major sources of investment funds. Technology, especially information management, is advancing the ability to improve both the environment and human well-being.

However, this is not enough. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) suggests that greater investments in biodiversity conservation will help to maintain the flow of ecosystem services upon which human development depends.

The research shows:

• Experience from the forest and water sectors shows that devolving decision-making power to local communities over the use and management of natural resources can create benefits. These include greater food security and more equal power relationships.
• Traditional approaches to nature protection have had serious adverse effects on poor people by limiting their access to biological resources and ecosystem services.
• Poverty reduction efforts that do not consider environmental issues can have adverse effects on natural resources.

The researchers argue that immediate action is necessary in three areas: improving natural resource governance; increasing investment in conservation, and; using relevant technology, especially for landscape-scale management. Under these banners, the researchers make recommendations to ensure that supporting ecosystem services is central to all development efforts.

To improve governance:

• Integrate ecosystem management for human wellbeing into development planning and implementation.
• Decentralise natural resources management.
• Mainstream the multilateral environmental agreements in development planning and implementation.
• Promote equity, particularly gender equity, in natural resource management.

To increase investment:

• Include biodiversity concerns in business planning and operations.
• Adapt investment plans to deal with the predicted impacts of climate change.
• Explore and support systems that make payments for ecosystem services.

To manage ecosystems at landscape scales:

• Ensure that all water management schemes ensure minimum environmental flows.
• Incorporate representative networks of protected areas into landscape management.
• Restore degraded landscapes and seascapes to benefit people and nature.

Finally, it is vital to monitor progress in achieving both conservation and development goals to ensure the effective and efficient use of scarce natural resources.

Source(s):
‘Depend on Nature: ecosystem services supporting human livelihoods’, World Conservation Union: Gland, Switzerland, by Sue Mainka, Jeff McNeely and Bill Jackson, June 2005 Full document.

id21 Research Highlight: 2 June 2006

Further Information:
Sue Mainka
Global Programme Team
IUCN – The World Conservation Union
Rue Mauverney 28
1196 Gland
Switzerland

Tel: +41 (22) 999 0150
Fax: +41 (22) 999 0025
Contact the contributor: sue.mainka@iucn.org

IUCN – The World Conservation Union

Other related links:
'Producing food and protecting the environment: priorities for action at a landscape-level'

'People and protected areas: new agendas for conservation'

'Ecosystem conservation is the key to economic development'

'Environmental services, tropical forests and local livelihoods'

See id21's links for conservation and biodiversity