Foreword

" This book contains numerous examples of how important ecosystems are to human well-being and the key role biodiversity plays in the effective functioning of ecosystems.  The governments of the world recognized this in 2002 when they adopted a target to reduce or halt the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010.  But this target is still far too modest.  If we look forward to 2020, and take seriously the messages in this book, our target must be to reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2020.  We should also establish interim targets and measurable indicators so we know that we are actually making progress towards achieving this goal. “ - Julia Marton-Lefevre, excerpt from The Wealth of Nature Foreword