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This briefing note summarizes a sharing circle workshop held on February 17, 2011, in Bloodvein First Nation, Manitoba. Facilitated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the session explored the relationship between the local environment and the well-being of First Nations peoples, documented observed environmental changes, and identified potential adaptation strategies for future climate variability.

This report reviews literature on the linkages between ecosystem services and human well-being, with a focus on how these relationships intersect with poverty. It examines conceptual frameworks like the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and discusses the necessity of integrating ecosystem-based policies with poverty-alleviating measures to build community resilience, particularly for those whose livelihoods depend directly on natural resources.

This research paper reviews international and Canadian programming and research on ecological goods and services (EGS) to guide the development of EGS policy and management in Manitoba, specifically to support a comprehensive water resources plan for Lake Winnipeg.

This fact sheet describes the vulnerability of tropical dry forests in the Americas to global change, detailing trends in productivity and the critical need for expanded conservation efforts to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services.

This report details the first phase of the 'Building Capacity for Ecological Infrastructure Investments in the Red River Basin' initiative, a partnership between the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Red River Basin Commission (RRBC). The project aims to develop a Decision Support System (DSS) to help municipalities and counties in the Red River Basin (RRB) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ecological infrastructure investments—such as restoring natural environments—compared to traditional 'hard' infrastructure for flood control and water quality management.

This research paper evaluates how tiered conservation strategies—combining protected areas, restrictive zoning, and incentive payments—represent four ecosystem services in England compared to single conservation strategies.

This working paper, produced by the World Resources Institute and the United Nations Development Programme, proposes a framework to scale up local ecosystem-based initiatives to combat poverty, ecosystem decline, and climate change in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The DIVERSUS Collaborative Research Network is developing an interdisciplinary framework to analyze how land cover change (LCC) affects functional biodiversity, ecosystem properties, and the resulting ecosystem services that support human livelihoods across diverse environments from the tropics to the tundra.

This fact sheet describes a research project focused on the Rio de la Plata Basin, examining the drivers and consequences of land use change, specifically the trade-offs between food and biofuel production and the maintenance of ecosystem services.

This executive summary evaluates the current scientific knowledge regarding the effects of climate change on the biodiversity of the tropical Andes. It identifies the region as a global biodiversity hotspot with high levels of endemism, particularly in cloud forests and high-altitude ecosystems. The document details how rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and habitat fragmentation threaten species' survival and the ecosystem services—such as water regulation and food security—upon which over 40 million people depend. It advocates for adaptive management, the creation of connected conservation corridors, and increased inter-institutional coordination to mitigate these risks.

This 2010 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute provides a strategic analysis of biodiversity in Tallinn, Estonia. It applies the 'Singapore Index' to assess the city's biological diversity and conservation efforts, surveys city officials on their experiences and expectations, and offers strategic and tactical recommendations to the Tallinn City Government to improve the preservation of urban biodiversity.

This 2010 policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines how air pollution, energy production, and pesticide use threaten the ecosystem services necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It argues that the degradation of approximately 60 per cent of examined ecosystem services may prevent the eradication of hunger and poverty, particularly in developing regions.

This guide provides a comprehensive framework for local governments to preserve and enhance biological diversity within urban environments. It emphasizes the role of municipal authorities in integrating biodiversity into strategic planning, managing green infrastructure, and engaging local communities to improve urban quality of life and ecosystem services.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the conflict between increasing food production to sustain a growing population and the conservation of ecosystem services under the pressure of climate change. It argues for a shift from managing ecosystems solely for food to a holistic approach that integrates food production with the maintenance of other nature-based services to avoid irreversible ecological tipping points.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) outlines its planned activities for July 2009 to June 2010, focusing on transdisciplinary research synthesis, land use and biodiversity projects in the Andes and Plata Basin, and strategic institutional planning.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute (WRI) evaluates the economic contribution of coral reefs and mangroves to Belize's national economy, focusing on tourism, fisheries, and shoreline protection. The study highlights a significant gap between the high economic value these ecosystems provide and the low level of investment in their management, particularly within the Marine Protected Area (MPA) system.

This policy brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a critical, low-cost tool for enhancing ecosystem productivity and human well-being. It highlights RWH as a decentralized alternative to large-scale water infrastructure that supports rainfed agriculture, urban water security, and climate change adaptation.

This report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) develops and pilots a replicable economic valuation methodology for coral reef ecosystem services in the Caribbean, specifically focusing on Tobago and St. Lucia. The study evaluates three primary services: reef-associated tourism and recreation, fisheries, and shoreline protection, providing lower-bound estimates of their contribution to local GDPs to inform sustainable coastal management and policy decisions.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an interpretive analysis of three major international scientific assessments—the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, the IAASTD, and GEO-4—to determine their implications for the policy goals of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The analysis focuses on 11 key themes, including climate change, biotechnology, and energy production, evaluating how these global trends affect Canada's agricultural competitiveness, social priorities, and risk management.

This policy brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the critical role of ecosystem services in buffering human populations against climate change and the risks associated with the loss of ecological resilience. It highlights how environmental degradation, combined with climate stressors, increases human vulnerability—particularly for poor and marginalised groups—and may trigger large-scale forced migration and humanitarian crises.