Ecosystem services as determinants of poverty
Ecosystem services as determinants of poverty

Author(s): Hanna Marietta Orjuela Artunduaga, Duván Emilio Ramírez Ospina
Subject(s): Geography, Regional studies
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Environmental dimension of sustainable development; ecosystem services; poverty; systematic literature review
Summary/Abstract: Based on the growing awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability to achieve inclusive sustainable development, this article aims to provide evidence regarding the links that exist between ecosystem services and poverty. The foregoing considers that these services provided by nature as elements of the environmental dimension of sustainable development constitute determinants of poverty, a condition that affects well-being of a large part of the population worldwide. Based on a systematic literature review, through scientometrics that follows four consecutive phases (planning, research, selection and analysis of scientific information, and identification of trends in the research areas of the subject matter), it was possible to examine, evaluate and compare the relationships that different authors, countries and/or institutions have established between ecosystem services and poverty during the last ten years of research. Results provide evidence for the impact of ecosystem services on people’s well-being, and establish the basis for interpreting poverty from the environmental dimension. When perceiving ecosystem services as determinants of poverty, progress is made in the comprehensive reading that is needed to guide assertive private and public actions that allow for changes in the real situation of people who suffer this plight that greatly deteriorates their quality of life and level of well-being.

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