THE LINKAGE BETWEEN HUMAN WELL-BEING AND ECOSYSTEMS

Recent thinking on human well-being has been influenced by thought from the less developed regions of the world. Development has come to be seen as a market paradigm and people are now thinking of an ecological paradigm for development. The United Nations Environment Programme has developed a multi-dimensional approach to examine well-being and poverty. Its emphasis is on empowering individuals-especially the poor-to become agents of change rather than victims.

Changes to the existing market paradigm provide opportunities at looking at humanity and the environment in a more holistic world view. As westerners it is time for us to consider these viewpoints and include the following concepts as outlined in the United Nations Environment Programme's Human Wellbeing and Ecosystems Linkages document.

Culture is an enriching service of ecosystems are among the most overlooked services ecosystems provide, especially to many people in developing countries. Many of the religions and cultures in these countries believe that nature is a living entity and, in fact, their followers pray to various elements of nature. These beliefs and values surrounding natural forces have provided spiritual guidance for many societies for many generations. But these are destroyed at an alarming rate as the ecosystems get degraded or converted into human-dominated ecosystems. The breakdown of these spiritual and cultural norms has had a devastating effect on social relations among people and their values.

Cultural or enriching services provided by ecosystems include:

• spiritual components and the relationship of people to land and water;
• aesthetic values;
• social relations and values; and
• educational and scientific value.

A majority of the rural poor depend on natural food-more commonly known as wild resources-to provide for adequate nourishment. This provisioning service of ecosystems has played a role in:

• Improving diets. Many of the poor lack access to marketed food supplements and depend on wild foods to provide the nutritional variety required for well-being.
• Providing relief during times of famine, crop failure, pest attack and drought.

However, many of these ecosystems have been converted for commercial activities with the intention that these activities will provide the poor with the resources to purchase the nourishment they need. However, evidence over the last five decades shows that this conversion effect has produced mixed results with many instances whereby the poor have not only not benefited from the conversion of ecosystems, but have also lost an important source of nourishment, especially in times of distress.

Many reasons have been cited as to why the poor have not benefited from the development process, but government and market failure have been cited as two of the main reasons. A more balanced, holistic approach to development, an ecological development paradigm is necessary to provide well-being for all of humanity. The top down approach of the market paradigm of development has led to greater inequities in the world. It is time for real change for the benefit of people, communities and ecosystems.

-Gary