An African account of ecosystem service provision: Use, threats and policy options for sustainable livelihoods

► Africa is diverse in terms of vegetation and aridity as well as ecosystem services. ► Unsustainable resource use and large scale agriculture threatens ecosystem services. ► There are efforts to safeguard ecosystem services through conservation policies. ► Scientific work on ecosystem services has grown and South Africa is leading the way. ► Future challenges include urbanization, climate change and land grabbing.