Poverty, health, and ecosystems : experience from Asia

It is today widely acknowledged both by the development and conservation communities that a vital relationship exists between the sound management of ecosystems, the determinants of poverty and the effectiveness of poverty alleviation efforts. Although levels of vulnerability remain high in urban areas, the relationship is closer still in rural settings where the majority of poor remain largely dependent upon the productivity and sustainability of natural ecosystems. This publication is the result of any analysis undertaken under the aegis of the Asian Development Bank’s Poverty and Environment Programme which aims to accelerate learning about poverty–environment relationships by gathering new knowledge on effective approaches to environmental management and poverty reduction. Using sixteen Asian-based case studies to document the relationships between poverty, health and natural resources management, it seeks to analyse lessons that can be drawn and used to achieve improved environmental management and poverty reduction.