ESPA at Planet Under Pressure 2012: Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation: A Global Dialogue

The ESPA session at the Planet Under Pressure Conference in March 2012 promoted a global discussion on the opportunities and challenges associated with using ecosystems services to reduce poverty. Chaired by Professor Paul van Gardingen, a set of case studies from the four ESPA regions – Africa, South Asia, China and Amazonia – were presented.  These highlighted how ecosystem services can improve the lives of the poor and start to enumerate the real costs to people of environmental degradation.  A panel of international discussants, including a number of developing country experts, were asked to give their reflections on the issues raised.