Linking Human Well-Being, Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital

Building on findings of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), UNEP’s initiative on Linking Human Well-Being, Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital aims to increase understanding on ecosystem services and their linkages with human well-being and natural capital. The increased knowledge on this linkage is critical to bridge the gap and become an entry point for mainstreaming environment into broader sustainable development frameworks, and ultimately, to assist countries in the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).

In order to assist in this process, a high level expert group was established, with experts in the field of environmental science, economics and governance, to produce a technical document by 2007. The document aims to provide a normative framework for linking natural capital with ecosystem services and human well-being, as well as for computing the natural wealth or the level of natural capital at the national level. The document is intended also to provide policy guidance in improving the integration of natural capital within broader development frameworks such as poverty reduction strategies and sustainable development plans through formal and informal institutions.

List of activities

• First Meeting of the High-Level Expert Group on Human Well-being, Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital, 26-29 September 2006, Bloomington, Indiana, USA.
• Second Meeting of the High-Level Expert Group on Human Well-being, Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital (venue and date of the meeting to be decided)
• Development of a technical document (to be completed in 2007)
• Participation in the follow up activities on the results of MA, undertaken by the International Council for Science (ICSU), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and United Nations University (UNU)