The well-being of people all over the world depends on the various goods and services provided by ecosystems such as food, fuel, construction material, clean water and air, and protection from natural hazards. Ecosystems, however, are under increasing pressure from unsustainable use and other threats including outright conversion. To address this concern, IUCN promotes the sound management of ecosystems through the wider application of the Ecosystem Approach – a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that places human needs at its centre. The aim of the IUCN Ecosystem Management Series is to support best practice ecosystem management, both at field and policy levels, to help realize IUCN’s vision of a just world that values and conserves nature. This publication is a contribution of IUCN CEM to the Ecosystems and Livelihoods Adaptation Network (ELAN). ELAN is an international network working across the scientific, policy and practitioner communities to enable and promote the integration of sound ecosystem management in human adaptation to climate change. Further information on ELAN can be found at www.ELANadapt.net.
