Ecosystem services and sustainable development: Perspectives f1 rom the food-energy-water Nexus

The maintenance of the total natural capital stocks has received increased attention worldwide for its ability to achieve sustainable development. However, the claim that ecosystem services (ES) contribute to sustainability has not been sufficiently verified. In this study, we explore how major ecosystem functions affect food, energy, and water (FEW) sustainability. This research addresses the importance of ecosystems and services provided, which sustainability depends on. Specific types of sustainability – food, energy, water, and fundamental ES with regional GDP are chosen to exam this relationship using the pressure-state-response framework. The results show that ecosystem services are indispensable keys to successfully achieving sustainable development goals. The research findings also illustrate a scheme for emphasizing how economic development can be a factor contributing to a multi-objective case study. Our approach may help guide future cooperative applications to achieve food, energy, and water sustainability while protecting ecosystem services. ? 2020 Elsevier B.V.