Chapter 1: Nature, Power, and Poverty

ECOSYSTEMS ARE – OR CAN BE – THE WEALTH OF THE POOR. < p>For many of the 1.1 billion people living in severe poverty, nature is a daily lifeline – an asset for those with few other material means. This is especially true for the rural poor, who comprise three-quarters of all poor households worldwide. Harvests from forests, fisheries, and farm fields are a primary source of rural income, and a fall-back when other sources of employment falter. But programs to reduce poverty often fail to account for the important link between environment and the livelihoods of the rural poor. As a consequence, the full potential of ecosystems as a wealth-creating asset for the poor