Goal 2. Reverse rapid degradation of ecosytems and assure their capacity to provide humans with needed goods and services.

Three premises underpin the People and Ecosystems Goal.

First, ecosystems and human wellbeing are inextricably linked. Human well-being has significantly improved over the last two centuries, and ecosystem services—such as food, water, wood, fish, climate, and recreation— have underpinned much of these improvements.

Second, growing demand for ecosystem services is placing unprecedented stress on these resources. The resulting costs and benefits are not equitably distributed. The resource-dependent poor often bear the greatest costs associated with degraded ecosystems.

Third, governance, institutions, and policies have largely failed to foster effective stewardship of ecosystems. Over 10 percent of Earth’s land surface is protected—one of the great accomplishments of the 20th Century. While protected areas will continue to play an important role in WRI’s work, this goal focuses on the stewardship of the remaining 90 percent of land that is unprotected, with special attention on reversing ecosystem degradation and improving human well-being. WRI’s efforts will concentrate on getting the right information to the right people at the right time.