Ecosystem Governance – the Foundation for Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals1
Ecosystem Governance – The Foundation for 1 Attaining the Sustainable Development Goals Key Messages 1. All life – and our wellbeing – depends on the services provided by ecosystems, including the air we breathe, the water we drink, the foods we eat, and all the other natural products on which we depend. The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) depends on the capacity of ecosystems to deliver these fundamental services, and we need to better govern and manage these resources. National development and human welfare (e.g., economic, health, education) policies and strategies must take into account the crucial role ecosystems play in their successful implementation, as there is no security without ecological security. 2. Yet the same ecosystem services and governance structures are threatened by unsustainable demands for re- sources (extractive, urban, agriculture, fisheries), climate change, political conflicts, and decades of inadequate and inappropriate management. Degraded ecosystems will compromise (or negate) progress that will be made in meeting the proposed SDGs – in economic, social, health, agriculture, marine and industrial areas. Good eco- nomic and ecological governance makes sustainable development a reality. 3. It is encouraging to see some nations acknowledging the state of their ecosystems, the threats they face, and the requirements needed to sustain them. Yet, to sustain development this “natural capital” should have the same weight in national policy-making as finance and other productive sectors. By recognizing the role ecosystems play in sustaining their development, nations must see the value in providing mechanisms for “environmental” considerations in all development, conservation and business issues. Ministries responsible for the environment and natural resources need to be granted higher stature in the constellation of governance sectors within a nation.
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