The Governance of nature and the nature of governance: policy that works for biodiversity and livelihoods

Abstract

Biodiversity and ecosystem services are being degraded faster than at any other time in human history. Most of the world's biodiversity is found in Southern countries where people greatly depend on natural resources but suffer from high levels of rural poverty and often weak governance. Weak governance (eg. political marginalization and corruption) is a key underlying driver of both biodiversity loss and poverty. At the same time, the role of biodiversity in the provision of ecosystem services that underpin national economies and rural livelihoods is largely overlooked. As the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment found, reversing ecosystem degradation while meeting the growing demand for ecosystem services will require significant changes in policies, institutions, and practices.