Ecosystem services: An agenda for research in South Asia

Abstract

Ecosystem services make important contributions to human wellbeing. South Asia is witnessing a rapid deterioration of local and regional ecosystems. Many of these ecosystems are exploited beyond what is socially optimal because they exist in either open access or common property regimes. With emerging concerns about climate change, there is further disquiet about the loss of natural areas and their services. This note discusses research priorities for managing South Asia's ecosystem services, as identified by a group of scientists and practitioners who gathered in Bengaluru, India, to address these concerns.