ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book examines the problem of biodiversity loss by analysing key ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands and rangelands, and island, marine and estuarine systems. It explores the economic and ecological conditions governing the value of biological resources and diversity at the international, national and local level, and the incentives of the various actors at all three levels to conserve biodiversity. The book provides some indication of the type of basic economic and ecological information required to make appropriate conservation and development decisions. The development of national strategies for biodiversity conservation must become a priority and, at the same time, multilateral organizations must take the responsibility of formulating global or regional blueprints or strategies. New and innovative approaches to international market regulation and compensation agreements are necessary because of the global public goods characteristic of biodiversity.
