Foreword: Making the Wealth of Nature Work for the Poor. Profound poverty is a fundamental obstacle to the dreams and aspirations of people in every nation. Even after five decades of effort to support development and growth, the dimensions of poverty still stagger us.
Chapter 1: Nature, Power, and Poverty. For many of the 1.2 billion people in severe poverty, nature has always been a daily lifeline -- an asset for those with few other material assets.
Chapter 2: Ecosystems and the Livelihoods of the Poor. Harvests from forests, fisheries, and farm fields are the primary source of income for the rural poor worldwide. Yet the full potential of ecosystems as a wealth-creating asset for the poor has yet to be effectively tapped.
Chapter 3: The Role of Governance. The pattern and instutions of governance are the critical factors determining how effectively the poor can harness ecosystems for their livelihoods.