Millenium Ecosystem Assessment

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) is the first global assessment of the status of the world's ecosystems, their implications for human well-being, and options for their sustainable management. It was initiated in 2001 by the United Nations and by a number of other international organizations. The primary objective of the MA was to evaluate the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being and to establish the scientific basis for informed decisions and actions needed to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of those resources. The MA has synthesized the best available information, including indigenous and local knowledge, to demonstrate the state of ecosystems and their services, the human dependence on these services, and the trends in biodiversity and ecosystem services. The MA also identifies options and strategies for ecologically sustainable management, the economic and social impacts of the options, the necessary economic conditions for their application, and their potential for integration into local, national, and global policies.