Bernstein 2008) which was the first report to fully explore how loss of biodiversity endangers human health. This was jointly supported by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This covered systematic documentation of various specific sectors of biodiversity in relation to health. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) conducted over a decade ago which was another milestone publication in the area. This came up with a unique framework to capture the biodiversity and ecosystem services viz. provisioning services, regulating services, supporting services and cultural services. Provisioning services include genetic resources, food, water, medicines, fuel, biochemicals, timber, fibre, and other resources that directly support life. Regulating services include air quality, fresh water, climate, preventing natural disasters, regulating diseases, pests and other microorganisms, other insects including pollination. Supporting services include photosynthesis, soil formation, nutrient cycling, water cycling. Cultural services include spiritual, cognitive, aesthetic, therapeutic values of ecosystems and landscapes. Based on this framework, one of the outcomes of the Millennium assessment was a report on, “Ecosystems and Human well-being–a Health Synthesis” which in detail captured various health and well-being related linkages. This also highlighted three dimensions such as, Direct negative health impacts due to ecosystem changes (increased disasters, pollutants and water shortage); Ecosystem mediated health impacts (infectious disease risk, reduced food and nutrition, natural medicines and cultural services) and Indirect health impacts (livelihood loss, population displacement and conflicts). Apart from highlighting these links and implications, the report also critically reflected on questions of priority actions at global, regional and local level and policy implications (MA Synthesis, WHO 2005). In 2012, WHO along with UNFCCC, SCBD and UNCCD published a report, “Our Planet, Our Health, Our Future”. This report looked at the three Rio de Jeneiro conventions on Bio d iver s i ty, Climate change and Desertification. The report specifically suggested the need for more integrated indicators related to health and natural systems in the sustainable development goals. Another unique feature of the report is the highlight on traditional knowledge and their importance in health and well-being (WHO 2012). It is pertinent here to mention that, though these links have been clearly established, this is not adequately and explicitly reflected in the SDG health related goals or indicators directly. Another recent repor t that has comprehensively highlighted the nexus is, “Connecting Global Priorities–Biodiversity and Human Health-A State of Knowledge Review”–Jointly published by WHO and CBD (2015). This report covered an array of topics including broad science-policy perspectives to more specific areas such as water and air quality; sustainable production and consumption; agrobiodiversity and nutrition; physical, mental and spiritual health including landscapes and healing; infectious diseases; lifestyle, and non-communicable diseases and microbial diversity; climate change and disasters; traditional medicine and natural products and so on. This has resulted in certain key policy decisions to strengthen the area of work between the Convention on Biological Diversity and the World Health Organization and a Liaison group on Biodiversity and Health has been constituted. In the recent past, there have also new perspectives such as One health, Eco-social 82 Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
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