I should like to recommend two books which might help you on such a broad topic. They are both in the 'Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation' series published by Cambridge University Press. The books are -

Slootweg, Roel, Rajvanshi, Asha, Mathur, Vinod B. & Kolhoff, Arend (2010). Biodiversity in Environmental Asessment: enhancing ecosystem services for human well-being.

van Beukering, Pieter J. H., Papyrakis, Elissaios, Bouma, Jetske, & Brouwer, Roy (editors) (2013). Nature's Wealth: the economcs of ecosystem services and poverty.

I hope that you might find tese books helpful.

Dr Michael Usher thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Protecting the environment is more important than economic development because of its negative impact on the environment and human health. However, sustainable economic development is possible if it does not negatively impact the environment. This is due to the underlying thought that development policies promote economic well being, while environmental policies have been seen to be restricting it. Thus, for sake of sustainable development, there is a need to balance economic development with environmental protection. Air/land/water pollution causes health problems and can damage the productivity of land and seas. Deforestation resulting from economic development damages soil and makes areas more prone to drought. Economic growth leads to resource depletion and loss of biodiversity. Protecting our environment is the foundation for sustaining our planet, community, and economy. Our environment supports and houses our ecosystems, allowing them to grow and thrive. If we fail to protect our environment, we will put the lives of humans, animals, plants, and more at risk.The environment provides other services that enable economic activity, such as sequestering carbon, filtering air and water pollution, protecting against flood risk, and soil formation. It is also vital for our wellbeing, providing us with recreational opportunities, improving our health, and much more. As income grows, people achieve a higher living standard and care more for the quality of the environment they. live in. The demand for a better environment as income grows induces structural changes in the economy that tend to reduce environmental degradation. Economic growth will be undermined without adequate environmental safeguards, and environmental protection will fail without economic growth. The earth's natural resources place limits on economic growth. Environmental protection is aimed at maintaining (and recovering when necessary) a healthy natural environment. Sustainable development embraces environmental, social and economic objectives, to deliver long-term equitable growth which benefits current and future generations. Sustainable development plays a crucial role in protecting the environment. The concept of sustainable development focuses on meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It seeks to balance economic growth with social and environmental considerations. Development has had many positive impacts globally. However, the environment has suffered degradation due to increased urbanization and industrialization. The four most significant environmental issues are deforestation, pollution, desertification, and the extinction of species. The expansion of agriculture can lead to soil erosion and water pollution. The development of infrastructure, such as roads and railways, can fragment habitats and disrupt wildlife migration patterns. These are just a few examples of the many ways in which development can have a negative impact on the environment. Protecting Our Environment Helps Conserve Our Natural Resources. Our Earth is precious, and we need to treat it as such. It's not just our home, but home to all life that inhabits this world. We have a significant responsibility as Earth's inhabitants and as consumers to be mindful of how we are treating our planet.