Ecosystem Services in Community Well-Being for a Sustainable Future

Dear Colleagues,

As shown through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is now well understood the continued provision of ecosystem services is fundamental to the well-being of local communities, as well as the global community. As the human population grows and hence the demand for ecosystem services, communities will continue to place increasing pressures on the ecosystems, species and the ecological processes that underpin their well-being. Whilst much has already been done to address this issue, numerous questions still exist around the governance approaches, technology, scientific understanding (including cultural knowledge, use of indicators), and education and communication tools needed to ensure ecosystem services are sustainably managed now, and for future generations.

Whilst there are many positive local-scale community reports of the quantity and quality of ecosystem services increasing, research shows the quantity and quality of many ecosystem services globally has declined and they are still misunderstood and undervalued. This misunderstanding and undervalue is documented in global assessments such as those produced by IPBES and UNEP, and evident in the continuing global activities that affect the environment (e.g., war, fishing and agriculture practices, energy delivery and consumption). Never have these activities been so dynamic, dramatic, and influenced by media, non-scientific influencers, and ‘fake news’. Yet, the political, economic, and social choices made today based on this information, have environmental and hence well-being impacts at scales local to global, now and for centuries to come.

Further exasperating the sustainability of ecosystem services and communities is climate change, a human-induced disaster. Perhaps most alarming is the threat climate change poses to intergenerational equity and the multiple dimensions of community well-being – such as the basic materials for life (food, water, shelter), mental and physical health, social cohesion, and economic freedom. So powerful is this phenomenon it too is influencing energy markets, food markets, and environmental markets (e.g., biodiversity, carbon, and water payments for ecosystem services). Climate change is even eroding cultures and displacing people from their homelands. Nature-based solutions focused on the preservation and enhancement of ecosystem services are key to addressing climate change.

This Special Issue is focused on nature-based solutions to sustainable development to improve community well-being at different geo-jurisdictional and time scales. Papers welcome that describe ecosystem service approaches that address the most pressing problems faced by urban, rural, coastal, and small island communities, and interactions across them. As many ecosystem services are public goods, we look to collective actions for sustained and enhanced ecosystem service provision that improve community well-being. We turn towards the SDGs, and invite papers that present solutions using ecosystem service approaches to address targets under the following:

• SDG 5 – achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
• SDG 6 – ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
• SDG 8 – promote sustained, inclusive sustainable economic growth.
• SDG 11 – make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
• SDG 12 - sustainable consumption and production patterns.
• SDG 13 – take action to combat climate change and its impacts.
• SDG 14 – conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable management.
• SDG 15 – protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
• SDG 16 – protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Contributions to this Special Issue are encouraged from all stakeholders to ecosystem services and contributing to sustainable development including NGOs, government, and the public and private sector.

Dr. Simone Maynard
Prof. Dr. Yonariza
Dr. Ruchi Badola
Guest Editors

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• ecosystem services
• community well-being
• nature based solutions
• sustainable development goals