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Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 
Understanding the Economic Value of the Ocean
Natural systems make an extraordinary contribution to our individual health and wealth. Although seemingly distant and disconnected, the ocean is no different than land systems. The ocean provides much of the employment, food, energy, efficient transportation of goods, recreation, and spiritual value that promote our wellbeing. It filters our waste, cycles our fresh water, augments our nutrition, and harbors our growing communities. Sustaining the ocean is indisputably in our self-interest, invaluable for us now and for the future
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is a comprehensive attempt to quantify this value so that, as interested citizens, we can understand the profit and loss directly linked to our specific decisions about ocean issues. Information is available at the address above and published versions may be ordered from Island Press.
The Assessment is technical and complicated. However, an excellent, well-organized synthesis and presentation of the questions raised and the answers suggested has been developed by GreenFacts.org.
Links to reports and individual chapters available for download in PDF format.
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