"Improving ecosystems management policies to help alleviate poverty in the developing world

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment showed that the loss of services from ecosystems (for example deforestation, soil degradation, water purification) is a significant barrier to reducing poverty, hunger and disease. Tackling this set of problems requires a combination of environmental science, ecological economics and political economy.

Three organisations, NERC, the Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Department for International Development (DfID) join forces for a multi-disciplinary research programme that will address how to achieve sustainably managed ecosystems. This work aims to contribute to reducing poverty and improving well being in developing countries"

http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/programmes/espa/