Nature provides valuable sanitation services

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dc.contributor.authorWillcock, Simon
dc.contributor.authorParker, Alison
dc.contributor.authorWilson, Charlotte
dc.contributor.authorBrewer, Timothy R.
dc.contributor.authorBundhoo, Dilshaad
dc.contributor.authorCooper, Sarah
dc.contributor.authorLynch, Kenneth
dc.contributor.authorMekala, Sneha
dc.contributor.authorMishra, Prajna Paramita
dc.contributor.authorRey, Dolores
dc.contributor.authorWelivita, Indunee
dc.contributor.authorVenkatesh, Kongala
dc.contributor.authorHutchings, Paul
dc.date.accessioned2021-03-03T10:44:58Z
dc.date.available2021-03-03T10:44:58Z
dc.date.issued2021-02-19
dc.description.abstractMuch previous research shows that safe disposal of human waste has a positive impact on human wellbeing, while preventing the degradation of ecosystems. However, to date, the role that ecosystems themselves play in treating human waste has been largely neglected. We conceptualize the role nature plays in treating human waste—acting as a pipeline and/or treatment plant. We estimate that nature is treating ~41.7 million tons of human waste per year worldwide, a service worth at least 4.4 ± 3.0 billion USD year−1. We demonstrate the opportunities and challenges of quantifying these “sanitation ecosystem services,” using 48 cities across the globe as a worked example. In highlighting this, we are not marginalizing the vital role of engineered infrastructure, but instead are promoting better understanding of how engineered and natural infrastructure interact within a circular economy. This is a promising route for further research and may allow adaptive design and management, reducing costs, and improving effectiveness and sustainability.en_UK
dc.identifier.citationWillcock S, Parker A, Wilson C, et al., (2021) Nature provides valuable sanitation services. One Earth, Volume 4, Issue 2, February 2021, pp. 192-201en_UK
dc.identifier.issn2590-3330
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2021.01.003
dc.identifier.urihttp://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/16427
dc.language.isoenen_UK
dc.publisherElsevieren_UK
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/*
dc.subjectwateren_UK
dc.subjectWASHen_UK
dc.subjectnatural sanitationen_UK
dc.subjectnature-based solutionen_UK
dc.subjectecosystem serviceen_UK
dc.titleNature provides valuable sanitation servicesen_UK
dc.typeArticleen_UK

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