Expanding nature-based enterprises can increase income for the
world’s rural poor. This approach, as outlined in the latest
World Resources Report 2008, can also develop the rural poor’s
resilience to social and environmental threats such as climate
change. Three-quarters of the 2.6 billion people who live on
less than $2 a day are dependent upon local natural resources
for their livelihoods. Threats such as climate change and
ecosystem degradation are beginning to strain those livelihoods,
and it will be necessary to shape development strategies that
build resilience against such threats and ensure stable and
prosperous communities. World Resources 2008: Roots of
Resilience - released here today as part of the IUCN World
Conservation Congress - closely examines existing community-
based efforts. The report argues that properly fostered nature-
based enterprises can improve rural livelihoods and, in the
process, create resilience to economic, social, and
environmental threats. Achim Steiner, under-secretary gen