UN Environment is working around the world to ensure that ecosystems deliver on all our needs as well as those of future generations.

Please take a moment to learn more about our work on Healthy and Productive Ecosystems.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

ECOSYSTEMS AND POLLUTION

While the world has achieved impressive economic growth over the past few decades, this progress has been accompanied by increased pollution. All forms of anthropogenic pollution impair or degrade the ecosystem goods and services we take for granted – like clean air, freshwater, wood, or the health and recreational benefits afforded by the great outdoors.

CONSERVATION FUTURES

UN Environment and partners have launched an initiative to reshape our approach to conserve the world's biodiversity. Conservation Futures aims to drive radical new thinking on biodiversity conservation. “We need a serious rethink of how we approach conservation,” says Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment. “We need to demonstrate the real value to societies and economies, and present workable solutions that show conservation makes perfect sense.”

UN Environment expert voices

"We extract valuable ecosystem services, and give back pollution"

"Freshwater ecosystems support a higher proportion of biodiversity than other ecosystems"

Our work on Healthy and Productive Ecosystems

UN Environment helps the transition to healthier and more productive ecosystems by working with a range of partners across terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems. Our work on Healthy and Productive Ecosystems focuses on six key building blocks for ensuring that ecosystem management can meet the needs of both current and future generations.

PRESERVING CRITICAL ECOSYSTEMS

To continue meeting our existing needs and provide the basis for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the health and productivity of ecosystems must be maintained. This means conserving biodiversity by protecting species, landscapes and seascapes, and maintaining the integrity of the earth's ecosystems by ensuring that the processes within them are unimpaired.

Selected articles on our work

Large-scale land-use plans are critical to allow people and animals to coexist

Ivory poaching is the most immediate, urgent threat to Africa’s elephants. But even if that can be tackled, they will have to fight humans for land, food and water. At present, much development happens without any planning oversight – often with piecemeal encroachment by arable farmers into land that was previously wild.

“Poaching attracts a lot of media attention, but it’s only part of a big picture. If we somehow stopped poaching tomorrow, elephants would still be in big trouble.” Julian Blanc, UN Environment

Dugong conservation project makes waves

Popularly known as “sea cows”, dugongs are an endangered species. They are affected by fishing activities, coastal pollution, killed for their meat, or injured by boats. They feed exclusively on seagrass in shallow coastal areas of the Indo-West Pacific. UN Environment's Dugong and Seagrass Conservation Project, funded by Global Environment Facility, seeks to work with local communities to help them understand the benefits of conserving dugongs and their habitat.

Mexico in last-ditch effort to save the vaquita porpoise

With only 30 individuals left in the wild, the vaquita porpoise, the smallest of all marine mammals, could soon disappear completely. But the Government of Mexico is taking urgent action to bring the species back from the brink. UN Environment added the vaquita as the 14th species in its Wild for Life campaign, championed by J.K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts starlette Alison Sudol.

ACCOUNTING FOR ECOSYSTEMS

A better understanding of our economic reliance on ecosystems can prompt behaviour change. Failure to recognize and account for the value of these goods and services in government and private sector decision-making has led to the unsustainable exploitation of ecosystems, triggering severe long-term social and economic costs which are increasingly reflected in insurance premiums, food prices, health incidents and even civil unrest.

Selected articles on our work

The tricky business of measuring a country’s true wealth

Gross Domestic Product measures economic transactions, regardless of whether they are positive or negative for human well-being or a nation’s wealth. The Inclusive Wealth Index, on the other hand, recognizes that the level of people’s health and education, and the natural resources around them, are key elements determining true wealth. Clean water, fertile land, beautiful landscapes, and thriving oceans have tremendous benefits for human physical, social and psychological well-being.

New research predicts the future of coral reefs under climate change

Coral reefs represent an astonishing $36 billion a year in economic value to the world. Of that $36 billion, $19 billion represents actual “on-reef” tourism like diving, snorkeling, glass-bottom boating and wildlife watching on reefs themselves. The other $16 billion comes from “reef-adjacent” tourism, which encompasses everything from enjoying beautiful views and beaches, to activities that are afforded by the sheltering effect of adjacent reefs.

UN Environment and partners published a study in January 2017 reveal which reefs will be hit first by annual coral bleaching.

"The predictions allow conservationists and governments to prioritize the protection of coral reefs that may still have time to acclimatize to our warming seas. The projections show us where we still have time to act before it's too late" - Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment

Biodiversity management - Indian style

Villagers in India’s rural Andhra Pradesh State have struck the delicate balance between benefiting from their rich biodiversity, while also ensuring its sustainability for future generations. Pinakota is just one of a number of villages benefiting from a biodiversity conservation project being jointly implemented by UN Environment and the Government of India, funded by the Global Environment Facility.

Setting the story straight about the true costs and benefits of food production

Agricultural practices can adversely impact biodiversity and ecosystem health. Agriculture is the world’s largest driver of climate change, contributing to 21% of global greenhouse-gas emissions. At the same time it is the sector most affected by climate change, with smallholder farmers hit the hardest. Corporations and consumers rarely pay for the true cost of food on the environment, public health, and social welfare and equity.

"It is critically important that we get the story straight about the true costs and benefits of food production. We must take into account things that matter, such as the true costs of pollution, water treatment costs, health risks and employment."

BUILDING INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS

Reconciling conflicting interests in the face of increasing demands for ecosystem goods and services will require revitalized collaboration across society. Aligning the supply of, and demand for, resources will require systemic change in terms of data sharing, negotiation and common performance monitoring systems. Institutions and action programmes which bring together stakeholders at national, regional and global level are crucial for providing the platform for collective decisions.

Selected articles on our work

How careful landscape management can have profound – and unexpected – impacts on human life

The African Landscapes Action Plan is a blueprint for sustainable landscape management across Africa. It lays out 19 priority actions for food security, climate change resilience, and poverty alleviation. Implementing the plan will require broad coalitions, dedicated investments – and the active participation of Africa’s private sector. In March, the “African Landscapes Dialogue” brought together more than 100 farmers, researchers, policymakers, business and community leaders.

Fostering a new generation of leaders to manage Africa’s landscapes

Africa in many ways is at a crossroads. Its population is growing, people are becoming wealthier and demand ever more food and other resources. The continent’s wildlife populations and ecosystems are under pressure as never before. Climate change is forcing farmers to grow different crops. Urbanization is changing mindsets. And young people are abandoning the countryside. In this context, striking a balance among competing interests, priorities and variables is a huge challenge.

The increasing competition for land in Africa will require leaders who can manage land and resources to ensure a steady supply of food, water and energy

Greening the deep blue

Scuba diving allows people to explore the magic of our underwater world, and potentially make a profound connection with nature. But the practice can also have serious impacts on the health of the marine environment. In April 2017, UN Environment teamed up with the Reef-World Foundation, the Green Fins initiative, the Blue Ocean Network and Underwater 360 to bring together key players from the diving industry to start a dialogue on sustainability in their work.

HARNESSING PUBLIC FUNDING

To implement integrated ecosystem management, funding streams have to be aligned with efforts to reconcile different demands on ecosystems. To deliver the Sustainable Development Goals we need an integrated approach that incorporates economic, social and environmental dimensions into national planning and budgeting processes.

Selected articles on our work

Untreated wastewater - a growing danger

In a world where the demand for water continues to grow and the resource is finite, a new United Nations report argues that wastewater, once treated, can help meet the needs for freshwater as well as for raw materials for energy and agriculture.

However, new research suggests that the amount of farmland irrigated with untreated wastewater is much greater than previously thought. There is need to invest in both wastewater treatment and in safer practices to protect environmental and public health.

Cutting poverty by fostering environmental sustainability

The Poverty-Environment Initiative, a joint project of UN Environment and the United Nations Development Programme, has supported 28 African countries in adopting an integrated approach to sustainable development since 2005. In Malawi, for example, the project’s studies and insights have helped the government re-orient its agricultural policy towards sustainability and women’s empowerment. Dopa village in northern Malawi, where the Initiative carried out a case study, exemplifies the complex relationships between poverty and environmental factors.

UN Environment is working to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems and their services

While facing numerous pressures and degradation, freshwater ecosystems play a central role for the health of economies and societies worldwide. Adequate access to freshwater and its productive uses require sound legal frameworks and good governance. Through its five-year Freshwater Strategy, UN Environment works together with a range of stakeholders to protect and restore freshwater ecosystems and their services.

ENGAGING BUSINESS

The corporate sector’s embrace of ecosystem considerations is one of the most promising means of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, while also reducing risks and providing new opportunities for companies, investors, lenders and insurers.

Selected articles on our work

Rabobank and UN Environment announce billion dollar partnership to kickstart climate smart agriculture

Rabobank and UN Environment created a new 1 billion dollar facility to finance sustainable agriculture using a combination of public and private funding. Together they also invite other interested financial institutions to sign up and work actively with global food companies to put this into practice. The facility aims to provide grants, de-risking instruments and credit to clients involved in sustainable agricultural production, processing or the trade of soft commodities who adhere to strict provisions for forest protection, restoration and the involvement of smallholders.

“As the leading global food and agriculture bank, Rabobank recognizes its responsibility to combine long-term stability of food production for the growing global population and the transition to sustainable land use. That’s why we kickstart this initiative with our partners, UN Environment and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development" - Rabobank CEO Wiebe Draijer

Bond Markets Must Consider Environmental Risks

Bonds – whether government or corporate – are not shielded from the impacts of climate change, ecosystem degradation and resource constraints. With around $100 trillion in corporate and sovereign bonds outstanding, it is critical for bond markets to consider how environmental risks can affect the performance of the underlying asset. A new report by UN Environment and partners models the impact of environmental risks on key macroeconomic indicators such as gross domestic product, enabling financial institutions to integrate environmental risk in their investment decision making.

Why Sustainability Is Good For Business

Nigerian businesses need to go beyond the piece meal approach of corporate social responsibility. The Nigerian government is committed to implementing a national sustainability roadmap for the financial sector. Backed by UN Environment's Finance Initiative, it requires each member of Nigeria’s Financial Services Regulation Coordinating Committee to develop a sustainable development model. This model is for themselves – as organisations – and the industries they regulate.