A new book, The Wealth of Nature, has been
launched in London by global building materials company CEMEX and the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The book, which
has also been developed in association with Conservation International,
The Wild Foundation and International League of Conservation
Photographers, outlines the views of leading scientists about nature's
ecological services and demonstrates how they contribute to our health,
economic prosperity, and cultural values.
The
book makes an important contribution to The International Year of
Biodiversity with its more than 20 essays from renowned conservation
scientists illustrated by images from leading photographers, by putting
the spotlight on how unsustainable economic growth has put a burden on
nature's capacity to deliver clean water, fresh air, medicines and
climate regulation, among other benefits. Assigning a financial value
to them is the key to mend some of the environmental impact of human
activities.
The Wealth of Nature was presented to Members of Parliament, civil
servants, community partners, environmentalists and commercial guests
at a Parliamentary House of Lords reception, which was hosted by
Baroness Gibson of Market Rasen OBE.
Head of the IUCN Ecosystem Management Programme and co-author of the
book, Dr Neville Ash said: "We now recognise that the climate is
changing, posing new challenges and threats to nature. Conserving
biodiversity will play a key role in our ability to adapt to these
changes.
"Nature provides services that are essential to sustain all life on
the planet. These services must be valued according to the multiple
benefits that they provide to people, and those communities who work to
protect them should be supported to do so. Placing a financial value on
the services that nature provides is critical to guarantee that
ecosystems stay healthy and continue to provide the benefits that all
people depend on to survive."
As one of the world's largest producers of aggregates, cement and
readymixed concrete products, CEMEX is committed to sustainable
development. From 1993, the company has, in partnership with not for
profit organisations, published a new book every year to put the
spotlight on a number of different conservation issues. 'The Wealth of
Nature' is the latest book, and the 17th in this series.
President of CEMEX UK, Gonzalo Galindo, said: "For more than a
decade we have been partnering with the leading organisations to
publish the CEMEX Conservation Book Series to help raise awareness of
the necessity to preserve our natural world. We strongly believe that
protecting ecosystems are a fundamental aspect of sustainable
development. It has a direct impact on the quality of people's lives
all over the world and it is essential for the sustainability of every
human activity, including business.
"In the UK, CEMEX has also entered into a partnership with the Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds to develop our biodiversity
strategy, which will be launched later this year. We think partnerships
between conservation bodies, like IUCN and the RSPB, and a commercial
company like ours are important and the way forward."