Ecosystem Services: Key Issues

Book Details:

• Publisher: Routledge

• Author: Mark Everard

• Language: English

• Edition: 1st Edition

• ISBN: 9781138692725

• Pages: 188

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches

• Weight: [Weight not specified]

About The Book:

Ecosystem Services: A Practical Introduction by Mark Everard, published by Routledge in 2017, provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the concept of ecosystem services. This book explores the various ways in which ecosystems contribute to human well-being, including services such as carbon sequestration, flood control, crop pollination, and aesthetic and cultural values. As one of the most powerful guiding principles in ecology, biodiversity conservation, and natural resource management, ecosystem services are key to understanding and addressing current environmental challenges.

The book traces the historical roots of the ecosystem services concept, beginning in the latter half of the twentieth century and evolving through major initiatives like the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Everard explains how ecosystem goods and services can be categorized and valued, both in economic and non-monetary terms, while also discussing the challenges and limitations associated with these valuation techniques.

With a focus on systems thinking, social-ecological resilience, and natural capital, the author illustrates how these themes are connected to ecosystem services and how they can contribute to sustainable and equitable development. Richly illustrated with international case studies, the book is aimed at students across the social, environmental, and life sciences, providing learning objectives and guidance for further reading. It assumes limited prior knowledge, making it an ideal resource for those new to the subject.