The ecosystem approach : five steps to implementation

The Ecosystem Approach puts people and their natural resource use practices squarely at the centre of decision-making. Because of this, the Ecosystem Approach can be used to seek a balance between the conservation and use of biological diversity. This publication provides practical guidance on how to use the Ecosystem Approach in planning field activities. By helping stakeholders to identify and understand the processes of change in their ecosystem, it enables them to plan adaptive management strategies with which to face a sustainable future.