Nature's Wealth: The Economics of Ecosystem Services and Poverty (Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation)

Increasing pressure from economic development and population growth has resulted in the degradation of ecosystems around the world and the loss of the essential services that they provide. Understanding the linkages between ecosystem service provisioning and human well-being is crucial for the establishment of effective environmental and economic development policy. Presenting new insights into the relationship between ecosystem services and livelihoods in developing countries, this book takes up the challenge of assessing these links to demonstrate their importance in policy development. It pays special attention to innovative management opportunities that improve local livelihoods and alleviate poverty while enhancing ecosystem protection. Based on eighteen studies in more than twenty developing countries, the authors explore the role of biodiversity-, marine-, forest-, water- and land-related ecosystem services, making this an invaluable contribution to research on the role of ecosystems in supporting the livelihoods of the poor around the world. List of contributors Acknowledgements 1. The economics of ecosystem services and poverty Part I. Biodiversity-related Ecosystem Services 2. Park-people conflicts, rhino conservation and poverty alleviation in Nepal 3. Rural poverty and human-elephant conflicts in Sri Lanka 4. Poverty, livelihoods and the conservation of nature in biodiversity hotspots around the world Part II. Marine-related Ecosystem Services 5. The role of marine protected areas in alleviating poverty in the Asia-Pacific 6. Economics of conservation for the Hon Mun Marine Protected Area in Vietnam 7. A multi-criteria approach to equitable fishing rights allocation in South Africa's Western Cape Part III. Forest-related Ecosystem Services 8. Greening the charcoal chain in Tanzania 9. Payments for environmental services in the protected areas of the Philippines 10. The copper curse and forest degradation in Zambia 11. Institutions and forest management in the Swat region of Pakistan Part IV. Water-related Ecosystem Services 12. Small scale water harvesting and household poverty in Northern Ethiopia 13. Water services, dam management and poverty in the Inner Niger Delta in Mali 14. The environmental and social impacts of flood defences in rural Bangladesh 15. Double dividends of additional water charges in South Africa Part V. Land-related Ecosystem Services 16. Income poverty and dependence on common resources in rural India 17. Tenure security and ecosystem service provisioning in Kenya 18. Pastureland degradation and poverty among herders in Mongolia 19. Changes in welfare and the environment in rural Uganda Index. Based on eighteen studies in more than twenty developing countries, this book explores the role of biodiversity-, marine-, forest-, water- and land-related ecosystem services in supporting the livelihoods of the poor around the world. The authors present innovative management opportunities that improve local livelihoods and alleviate poverty while enhancing ecosystem protection.