Nature is, or can be, a route out of poverty. Ecosystems and the goods and services they provide are an important and under-valued aspect of the livelihoods of the poor. Three quarters of the world's poor live in rural areas, and are disproportionately affected by enviromental degradation. But programs to reduce poverty often fail to account for the important link between environment and the livelihoods of the rural poor. As a consequence, the full potential of ecosystems as a wealth-creating asset for the poor -- not just a survival mechanism -- has yet to be effectively tapped.