Our Balancing Act

Our planet has a large capacity to support life. The ecosystems of the world - such as forests and oceans - provide a multitude of services. Water, clean air, climate regulation and genetic diversity, living creatures cannot do without them. However, ecosystems are over-used and threatened at an unimaginable scale, in most cases because of economic development.In this book the authors address the following questions:•Why seems limitless use of ecosystems possible, and why are they 'free' to use?•What is the true value of ecosystems, and what is threatening them?•Is it possible to create a business case for ecosystems, so that they can be protected and preserved for the future?•Could this lead to a model for Sustainable Ecosystem Management, which is basedon their long-term economic value?The state of the natural world concerns all human beings. A range of solutions to increase the available funds for conservation activities is already suggested: from payments for ecosystem services to the lease of large parts of the Amazon to international organisations. Whatever path is followed, we should remember this. There is only one planet available for life on Earth.