Introduction

‘Biodiversity’ is an umbrella term covering all life on the planet, from genes and species up to habitats and ecosystems on land and in water. Biodiversity provides a range of ecosystem services that fuel our global economy and underpin human and societal well-being. However, its many values mostly go unrecognized in the markets and in decision making by politicians, administrators, businesses and individuals. Because nature is almost invisible in the choices we make at every level, we are steadily drawing down our natural capital. We do so without understanding what it really costs to replace services provided free by nature – or whether man-made alternatives are even feasible. Damage to global biodiversity is acute and accelerating. While the overarching driver is linked to pressures from steadily rising consumption and production, we make the problem worse by excluding nature’s value from our decisions – and miss opportunities for solutions. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity in National and International Policy Making provides a toolkit and a way forward. New momentum is under way to develop more balanced and accountable approaches based on nature’s values and fairer distribution of its benefits. This book presents an evidence base of experience and best practices from around the world.