Anthropocentrism is the belief that value is human-centered and that all other beings are means to human ends. The Oxford English Dictionary defines anthropocentrism as “regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence”. Anthropocentrism focuses on humanistic values as opposed …

The trade-off between high forest and biodiversity loss associated with development of oil palm plantations and their extremely efficient production of vegetable oil supplied the world with cooking oil and biofuel while taking away millions of hectares of forest in Indonesia alone. RSPO certification …

Forests, both natural and planted, can provide multiple benefits to human society. The loss of these ecosystem services due to deforestation and forest degradation is of global concern and of particular importance to rural populations that rely on natural resources for their livelihoods. One of the (international) …

To ensure stability for ships, ballast water is often used to correct or adjust the list or trim of a ship. After loading the ballast water is often carried across the ocean and discharged in an area with another aquatic environment. As a result, invasive species can end up in the water and effect the …

In recent years, the recognition of the importance of ecosystem services provided by peatlands has become increasingly topical (Clarke, 2006). It is now known that peatland degradation and loss of habitat has large negative impacts, particularly with regards the loss of the habitats natural carbon sink …

From previous research in the western Wadden Sea it is clear that mussel plots are important hotspots for biodiversity. When the density of a mussel plot is higher, the biodiversity appears to be higher as well. This final thesis project was a part of the bigger project, ‘Added value with Mussels’, executed …

The loss of biodiversity is a worldwide problem caused by over exploitation of natural resources, pollution, introduction of invasive species and other problems, human induced. The Netherlands is working on strengthening its natural environment boosting social and economic wellbeing. In Southwest Drenthe, …

The invasion of alien species threatens ecosystem functioning and is the second greatest cause for biodiversity loss around the world. Presently the Arctic regions are the least invaded realms of the world. However not much is known on the current- and future impact of alien species on the Arctic Ocean. …

With the construction of a hydroelectric dam, especially in a fragile region like the Amazon rainforest, many aspects of the environment are affected. (Santos, Barbosa, & Hernandez, 2009) People living in the Amazon, in the vicinity of these construction site, are often very dependent on natural resources, …

The Convention on Biodiversity has developed the concept of ‘ecosystem services’ and ‘natural resources’ in order to describe ways in which humans benefit from healthy ecosystems. Biodiversity, conceived through the economic approach, was recognized to be of great social and economic value to both present …