ESPASSA Project Overview
Scientists are investigating the links between ecosystems and poverty in South Asia to identify ways in which the poor are dependent on the services provided by ecosystems in the region.
According to the 2004 Asian Development Bank report, “Poverty in Asia: Measurement, Estimates and Prospects”, approximately 1.9 billion people (60% of developing Asia’s population) live on an average of less than US$2 per day. 357 million extremely poor people from this region live in India and another 77 million in other South Asian countries.
There is a recognised link between poverty and ecosystem services (the benefits that people derive from ecosystems). Therefore to achieve poverty reduction, which is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), measures must be taken to protect and enhance the delivery of ecosystem services.
ESPASSA, a project within the UK-funded “Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation” programme, is investigating the status, trends and relationships in poverty and ecosystem services for India and the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region. ESPASSA will deliver a “Situation Analysis (SA)”, which will provide the underpinning evidence to support the development of projects to address poverty alleviation in the region.
The project is focussing on five South Asian countries: India (1), Pakistan (2), Bangladesh (3), Nepal (4) and Bhutan (5). Stakeholder engagement in each of these countries will play a central role in the development of the ESPASSA project, ensuring that the resulting Situation Analysis is targeted to the needs of those within the region.
