[...]... and linkages between people, biodiversity and ecosystems Human activities have direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, which in turn affects the ecosystem services they provide, and ultimately impacts on human well-being The MEA, however, also notes that many other factors, independent of changes in biodiversity and ecosystems, affect human conditions and that biodiversity and ecosystems... well-being and sustainable development The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) 2005 has brought about a fundamental change in the way that scientists perceive the role and value of biodiversity, and recognizes the dynamics and linkages between people, biodiversity and ecosystems Human activities have direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems, which in turn affects the ecosystems services. .. PM Page 2 2 Conserving and Valuing Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity The MEA identifies four types of ecosystem services that contribute to human well-being These are: provisioning services such as food, water, timber and fibre; regulating services such as the regulation of climate, floods, disease, wastes and water quality; cultural services such as recreation, aesthetic enjoyment, and spiritual... policy makers in conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services that are critical for sustaining human well-being and development The contributors to the volume are leading experts in the world who have made significant contributions to biodiversity research and policy The volume covers a wide range of themes and issues such as the economics and valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, social... indigenous knowledge; and climate change, Prelims.qxd 11/28/2008 12:25 PM Page xxii xxii Conserving and Valuing Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity biodiversity and ecosystem services However, some of the chapters address issues which overlap across these themes I had conceived of this book after the publication of my book The Economics of Biodiversity Conservation: Valuation in Tropical Forest Ecosystems by... assets go beyond dollars and cents: they are important culturally and spiritually for many people But in a world where economics and trade dominate and define so many choices, it is crucial that we put the economic case clearly and convincingly if we are to make a difference This new publication, Conserving and Valuing Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity: Economic, Institutional and Social Challenges... Gland, Switzerland Prelims.qxd 11/28/2008 12:25 PM Page xvi xvi Conserving and Valuing Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Ernest L Molua is a Lecturer, Department of Economics and Management, University of Buea, Cameroon K N Ninan is Professor of Ecological Economics, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore, India and Visiting Professor, Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and. .. abundance and biodiversity, the spillover costs of which will be borne by future generations Conserving biodiversity and the ecosystem services that they provide is part of the larger objective of promoting human well-being and sustainable development It also has implications for the poor and for poverty reduction The poor depend on nature’s bounties and services to sustain their livelihoods, and the... Chapter01.qxd 11/27/2008 1:47 PM Page 4 4 Conserving and Valuing Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity INDIRECT DRIVERS OF CHANGE Demographic Sociopolitical Economic Science and technology Cultural and Religious DIRECT DRIVERS OF CHANGE Climate Change Nutrient Loading Land Use Change Species Introduction Overexploitation BIODIVERSITY Number Relative abundance Composition Interactions ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS HUMAN WELL-BEING... (provisioning services) are the products obtained from ecosystems; and cultural services represent non-material benefits delivered by ecosystems Both of these are directly related to human well-being Regulating services are the benefits obtained from regulating ecosystem processes Supporting services are those necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services Figure 1.1 Biodiversity, ecosystem . Conserving and Valuing Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Prelims.qxd 11/28/2008 12:25 PM Page viii PART 5 CLIMATE CHANGE, BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 16. Conserving and Valuing Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Prelims.qxd 11/28/2008 12:25 PM Page i Prelims.qxd 11/28/2008 12:25 PM Page ii Conserving and