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It is ironic that in these environmentally aware times, when the extent of the interconnections between the biogeochemical, ecological and social systems operating across the planet has now been deduced, and when world leaders have repeatedly affirmed their commitment to sustainable development, that the gulf between humanity's aspirational goal of planetary environmental stewardship and its achievement has never been so large. Progress being made globally to achieve the millennium development goals and alleviate human suffering and poverty (UN 2012) has often come at the expense of many of the world's natural ecosystems, with the concomitant loss of ecosystem goods and services. Accordingly, the net gains of development are often less than thought (MEA 2005a). For example, 'Expansion of livestock production around the world has often led to overgrazing and dryland degradation, rangeland fragmentation, loss of wildlife habitat, dust formation, bush encroachment, deforestation, nutrient overload through disposal of manure, and greenhouse gas emissions' (MEA 2005a). |
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