On the Brink: The economics of biodiversity, conservation and food security

Biodiversity loss is occurring at an alarming rate, a decline that threatens to compromise the benefits nature provides to people. This is particularly concerning in the case of freshwater ecosystems, where both species loss and human dependence on the environment for food and livelihoods are highest. This dissertation demonstrates the essential role that diverse fish communities play in maintaining local food security, measures the effectiveness of conservation actions in improving fish diversity, and discusses the conditions important for their success. These results support the use of conservation and the improved management of natural resources to benefit people and nature.