Ecosystem Services: Key Issues

Ecosystem services is a powerful guiding principle for ecology, biodiversity conservation, and natural resource management. The second edition of Ecosystem Services: Key Issues has been fully revised and updated to address policy and scientific developments, as well as new and emerging issues, such as nature-based solutions, zoonotic diseases, and environmental justice. It includes new and updated case studies from across the world and discusses how ecosystem goods and services can be categorized and valued in economic and non-monetary terms. The book also highlights the themes of systems thinking, social-ecological resilience, and natural capital and how these can contribute to more sustainable and equitable development.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 31 December 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Ecosystem services is a fundamental concept in ecology, biodiversity conservation, and natural resource management, providing a framework for assessing the diverse values and services that ecosystems offer to humanity. The second edition of Ecosystem Services: Key Issues has been thoroughly revised and updated to address policy and scientific advancements, as well as emerging issues such as nature-based solutions, zoonotic diseases, and environmental justice. This comprehensive textbook offers a detailed yet accessible introduction to ecosystem services, covering topics such as carbon sequestration, flood control, crop pollination, and aesthetic and cultural services.

The book begins by exploring the historical roots of ecosystem services in the second half of the twentieth century, including initiatives such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, The Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES), and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It then delves into the categorization and valuation of ecosystem goods and services, discussing both economic and non-monetary approaches. The author emphasizes the importance of systems thinking, social-ecological resilience, and natural capital in understanding ecosystem services and their contribution to sustainable and equitable development.

Throughout the book, case studies from various regions and ecosystems are presented to illustrate the practical applications of ecosystem services. Each chapter includes further reading, learning objectives, and discussion questions to aid student learning. The book also addresses the challenges and limitations of valuation techniques, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of robust methodologies.

Ecosystem Services: Key Issues is an essential textbook for students and scholars in ecosystem services, ecology, environmental science, biodiversity conservation, and environmental management. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of the importance of ecosystem services and their role in achieving sustainable development.

Weight: 789g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032021997
Edition number: 2 New edition