Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Current State and Trends: Findings of the Condition and Trends Working Group (Volume 1) (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Series)

Humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively in the last 50 years than in any comparable period of human history. We have done this to meet the growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber, and fuel. While changes to ecosystems have enhanced the well-being of billions of people, they have also caused a substantial and largely irreversible loss in diversity of life on Earth, and have strained the capacity of ecosystems to continue providing critical services.Among the findings:Approximately 60% of the services that support life on Earth are being degraded or used unsustainably. The harmful consequences of this degradation could grow significantly worse in the next 50 years.Only four ecosystem services have been enhanced in the last 50 years: crops, livestock, aquaculture, and the sequestration of carbon.The capacity of ecosystems to neutralize pollutants, protect us from natural disasters, and control the outbreaks of pests and diseases is declining significantly.Terrestrial and freshwater systems are reaching the limits of their ability to absorb nitrogen.Harvesting of fish and other resources from coastal and marine systems is compromising their ability to deliver food in the future.Richly illustrated with maps and graphs, Current State and Trends presents an assessment of Earth's ability to provide twenty-four distinct services essential to human well-being. These include food, fiber, and other materials; the regulation of the climate and fresh water systems; underlying support systems such as nutrient cycling; and the fulfillment of cultural, spiritual, and aesthetic values. The volume pays particular attention to the current health of key ecosystems, including inland waters, forests, oceans, croplands, and dryland systems, among others. It will be an indispensable reference for scientists, environmentalists, agency professionals, and students. Humans Have Changed Ecosystems More Rapidly And Extensively In The Last 50 Years Than In Any Comparable Period Of Human History. We Have Done This To Meet The Growing Demands For Food, Fresh Water, Timber, Fiber, And Fuel. While Changes To Ecosystems Have Enhanced The Well-being Of Billions Of People, They Have Also Caused A Substantial And Largely Irreversible Loss In Diversity Of Life On Earth, And Have Strained The Capacity Of Ecosystems To Continue Providing Critical Services. This Volume Pays Particular Attention To The Current Health Of Key Ecosystems, Including Inland Waters, Forests, Oceans, Croplands, And Dryland Systems, Among Others. It Will Be An Indispensable Reference For Scientists, Environmentalists, Agency Professionals, And Students. Ma Conceptual Framework -- Analytical Approaches For Assessing Ecosystem Conditions And Human Well-being -- Drivers Of Ecosystem Change -- Biodiversity -- Ecosystem Conditions And Human Well-being -- Vulnerable Peoples And Places -- Fresh Water -- Food -- Timber, Fuel, And Fiber -- New Products And Industries From Biodiversity -- Biodiversity Regulation Of Ecosystem Services -- Nutrient Cycling -- Climate And Air Quality -- Human Health : Ecosystem Regulation Of Infectious Diseases -- Waste Processing And Detoxification -- Regulation Of Natural Hazards: Floods And Fires -- Cultural And Amenity Services -- Marine Fisheries Systems -- Coastal Systems -- Inland Water Systems -- Forest And Woodland Systems -- Dryland Systems -- Island Systems -- Mountain Systems -- Polar Systems -- Cultivated Systems -- Urban Systems -- Synthesis. Edited By Rashid Hassan, Robert Scholes, Neville Ash. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment:Current State & Trends Assessment......Page 1 UnEncrypted269......Page 2 UnEncrypted270......Page 49 UnEncrypted271......Page 61 UnEncrypted272......Page 79 UnEncrypted273......Page 102 UnEncrypted274......Page 148 UnEncrypted275......Page 190 UnEncrypted276......Page 212 UnEncrypted277......Page 255 UnEncrypted278......Page 288 UnEncrypted279......Page 315 UnEncrypted280......Page 358 UnEncrypted281......Page 391 UnEncrypted282......Page 414 UnEncrypted283......Page 450 UnEncrypted284......Page 475 UnEncrypted285......Page 498 UnEncrypted286......Page 512 UnEncrypted287......Page 534 UnEncrypted288......Page 569 UnEncrypted289......Page 606 UnEncrypted290......Page 639 UnEncrypted291......Page 676 UnEncrypted292......Page 716 UnEncrypted293......Page 734 UnEncrypted294......Page 770 UnEncrypted295......Page 797 UnEncrypted296......Page 847 UnEncrypted297......Page 878 UnEncrypted767......Page 890 The millennium ecosystem assessment conceptual framework Analytical approaches for assessing ecosystem conditions and human well-being Drivers of change Biodiversity Ecosystem conditions and human well-being Vulnerable peoples and places Fresh water Food Timber, fuel, and fiber New products and industries from biodiversity Biological regulation of ecosystem services Nutrient cycling Climate and air quality Human health : ecosystem regulation and infectious diseases Waste processing and detoxification Regulation of natural hazards: floods and fires Cultural and amenity services Marine fisheries systems Coastal systems Inland water systems Forest and woodland systems Dryland systems Island systems Mountain systems Polar systems Cultivated systems Urban systems Synthesis. Comparing alternate futures of ecosystem services and human well-being -- MA conceptual framework -- Global scenarios in historical perspective -- Ecology in global scenarios -- State of the art in simulating future changes in ecosystem services -- Scenarios for ecosystem services : rationale and overview -- Methodology for developing the MA scenarios -- Drivers of change in ecosystem condition and services -- Four scenarios -- Changes in ecosystem services and their drivers across the scenarios -- Biodiversity across scenarios -- Human well-being across scenarios -- Interactions among ecosystem services -- Lessons learned for scenario analysis -- Policy synthesis for key stakeholders. v. 1. Current state and trends / edited by Rashid Hassan, Robert Scholes, Neville Ash v. 2. Scenarios / edited by Steve R. Carpenter ... [et al.] v. 3. Policy responses / edited by Kanchan Chopra ... [et al.] v. 4. Multiscale assessments / edited by Doris Capistrano ... [et al.] [supp.] Our human planet