Anthropology
Open Access

Abstract

Paradoxes of Sustainable Development and Abandonment of Nature

Kopnina Helen

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) and various international environmental agencies have developed the concept of ‘ecosystem services’ and ‘natural resources’ todescribe ways in which humans benefit from healthy ecosystems. Biodiversity was recognized to be of great social and economic value to both present and future generations. According to its critics, resource approach of naturemight be inadequate in protecting non-human species that are not directly used for human welfare since the economic capture gives no grounding for prohibiting or even restricting their destruction. This article aims to examine environmental challenges through contesting discourses of sustainability and to discuss implications of these conceptions for the sustainable future for human security.