The 2007 Year Book includes global and regional overviews of signifi cant developments over the past year. It high- lights linkages among ecosys- tem health, human well-be- ing, and economic develop- ment; examines new thinking on the value of ecosystem services and the threat from ecosystem degradation; and describes recent research fi- ndings and policy decisions that affect our awareness and response to global change.

A special feature focus ana- lyzes the intersection between environment and globalization where ecosystem services and the human well-being that depends on those services are affected by natural resource exploitation in response to global demands. The chapter also explores some of the innovative policy mechanisms that link global supplies of goods and services with sust- ainable development objectiv- es.

The emerging scientific and policy challenges of nanotech- nology are examined from an environmental perspective. Na- notechnology will bring env- ironmental benefi ts but it is vital that we adopt appro- priate assessment and legis- lative processes to address the unique challenges presented by nanomaterials and their life cycles.