Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Series

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Current State and Trends

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Current State and Trends

Findings of the Condition and Trends Working Group

Humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively in the last 50 years than in any comparable period of human history. We have done this to meet the growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber, and fuel. While changes to ecosystems have enhanced the well-being of billions of people, they have also caused a substantial and largely irreversible loss in diversity of life on Earth, and have strained the capacity of ecosystems to continue providing critical services.

Among the findings:

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Multiscale Assessments

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Multiscale Assessments

Findings of the Sub-Global Assessments Working Group

One of the major innovations of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is the incorporation of local and regional assessments—33 in all—in a global portrait of the planet’s health.

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Policy Responses

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Policy Responses

Findings of the Responses Working Group

With the knowledge of possible outcomes, what kind of actions should we take? The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment scored 74 response options for dealing with declines in ecosystem services and biodiversity, and managing drivers such as climate change and nutrient loading. This third volume in the MA series analyzes the track record of past policies and the potential of new ones.

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Synthesis

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being is the first product of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a four-year international work program designed to meet the needs of decisionmakers for scientific information on the links between ecosystem change and human well-being.

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being

A Framework For Assessment

Ecosystems and Human Well-being is the first product of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), a four-year international work program designed to meet the needs of decision-makers for scientific information on the links between ecosystem change and human well-being. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is modeled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and will provide information requested by governments, through four international conventions, as well as meeting needs within the private sector and civil society.

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Our Human Planet

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Our Human Planet

Summary for Decision Makers

Our Human Planet summarizes the findings of the four working groups and serves as a reference guide to the four main volumes in the MA series. It presents the key findings of each of the working groups, providing an overview of the framework used by the assessment, and will serve as a guide for assessment, planning, and management for the future.