What Has Nature Ever Done for Us?: How Money Really Does Grow On Trees

New
Paperback
2013
$11.53

From Indian vultures to Chinese bees, Nature provides the 'natural services' that keep the economy going. From the recycling miracles in the soil; an army of predators ridding us of unwanted pests; an abundance of life creating a genetic codebook that underpins our food, pharmaceutical industries and much more, it has been estimated that these and other services are each year worth about double global GDP. Yet we take most of Nature's services for granted, imagining them free and limitless ... until they suddenly switch off. This is a book full of immediate, impactful stories, containing both warnings (such as in the tale of India's vultures, killed off by drugs given to cattle, leading to an epidemic of rabies) but also the positive (how birds protect fruit harvests, coral reefs protect coasts from storms and how the rainforests absorb billions of tonnes of carbon released from cars and power stations). Tony Juniper's book will change whole way you think about life, the planet and the economy

Synopsis

From Indian vultures to Chinese bees, Nature provides the 'natural services' that keep the economy going. From the recycling miracles in the soil; an army of predators ridding us of unwanted pests; an abundance of life creating a genetic codebook that underpins our food, pharmaceutical industries and much more, it has been estimated that these and other services are each year worth about double global GDP. Yet we take most of Nature's services for granted, imagining them free and limitless ... until they suddenly switch off. This is a book full of immediate, impactful stories, containing both warnings (such as in the tale of India's vultures, killed off by drugs given to cattle, leading to an epidemic of rabies) but also the positive (how birds protect fruit harvests, coral reefs protect coasts from storms and how the rainforests absorb billions of tonnes of carbon released from cars and power stations). Tony Juniper's book will change whole way you think about life, the planet and the economy

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Edition: Main
Publisher: Profile Books
Published: 10 Jan 2013
ISBN 10: 1846685605
ISBN 13: 9781846685606
Book Overview: The true value of ecosystems to world economies.

Media Reviews

Praise for Tony Juniper: 'He is by popular consent the most effective of Britain's eco-warriors * Independent *
One of the top ten environmental figures of the last thirty years -- The ENDS Report
[Tony Juniper] is among the 100 people who are making the decisions that affect your life * Country Life *
A brilliant resume of Nature's New Deal: nurture me and I'll nurture you. * Nick Crane *
What Has Nature Ever Done For Us? is a brilliant resume of nature(1)s new deal: nurture me and I'll nurture you. -- Nick Crane, author and TV presenter
Juniper explains how the welfare of the human species rests on the assets and services provided by the rest of nature, and makes the case for natural capital to be integral in a new economy fit for the future. -- Michael Clarke, Chief Executive, RSPB
Tony Juniper takes us on a highly readable, personal journey of discovery of nature and our reliance upon it. What Has Nature Ever Done For Us? provides the stories and the numbers to convince others that investing in nature(1)s balance sheet is good for the corporate balance sheet. -- Jose Lopez, Nestle
This book should be on the essential reading list at schools. Without understanding the essence of life - and this is a fantastically modern romp through it - how can our children be expected to make the right decisions? If we ever needed a book to remind us that we are part of nature, not separate from it, this is it. -- Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts
Science Books of the Year ... A readable, timely vision -- Robin McKie * Observer *

Author Bio

Tony Juniper is an independent sustainability and environment adviser, including as Special Advisor with the Prince's Charities International Sustainability Unit and as a Senior Associate with the University of Cambridge Program for Sustainability Leadership. He is a founder member of the Robertsbridge Group that advises international companies. He speaks and writes on many aspects of sustainability and is the author of several books, including the award winning Parrots of the World, Spix's Macaw and How Many Light Bulbs Does It Take To Change A Planet? He was a co-author of Harmony, with HRH The Prince of Wales and Ian Skelly. His new book, What has Nature ever done for us? will be published in January 2013. He began his career as an ornithologist, working with Birdlife International. From 1990 he worked at Friends of the Earth and was the organisation's executive director from 2003-2008 and was the Vice Chair of Friends of the Earth International from 2000-2008. www.tonyjuniper.com, twitter:@tonyjuniper.com