This book provides a compilation of policy, institutional and governance recommendations from eighteen leading international experts, in response to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) finding that over the last 50 years humans have degraded ecosystems services at a faster rate and on a larger scale than at any time in human history.

Contents: Editor’s Introduction Action Agenda for Sustaining Ecosystem Services Frances Irwin and Janet Ranganathan PART I: INCORPORATING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES INTO DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND PRACTICE 1. Mainstreaming and Implementing the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Results by Integrating them into Sustainable Development Strategy: Applying the Action Impact Matrix Methodology Mohan Munasinghe 2. Development, Ecosystems and Governance: What are the Priorities for Policy Makers? Antonio La Vina 3. To Change Global Change: Ecosystem Transformation and Conflict in the 21st Century Nicolás J. Lucas, Iokiñe Rodriguez and Hernán Darío Correa 4. Putting the Assessment into Action: Six Steps for Governments Lailai Li 5. From Assessment to Action: Operationalizing Environmental Sustainability at the National Level Guido Schmidt-Traub and Albert Cho 6. Environmental Policy Priorities for the World Bank Robert Goodland PART II: USING NEW TOOLS AND SKILLS 7. A Scenarios Approach to Developing Ecosystem Management Strategies Mark E. Bateman 8. The Implications of Interdisciplinary Scientific Assessments for Environmental Governance Richard B. Norgaard 9. Looking Back and Ahead in Ecosystems: Reflections on the Lessons of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Anthony C. Janetos 10. Policy Actions to Help Move Us Towards Ecosystem Security Karin M. Krchnak 11. Framing the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Messages for Political Resonance Frances Seymour PART III: BUILDING INSTITUTIONS TO SUSTAIN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 12. Meeting the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Challenge: The Case for Biome Stewardship Councils Sudhir Chella Rajan 13. Smart Globalization: Opportunities for Business, Scientific and Political Leadership David Jhirad 14. A Commission to Spur Investments in Ecosystem Services for the Poor Frances Irwin Index