Natural capital – our ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources – underpins economies, societies and individual wellbeing. The values of its myriad benefits are, however, often overlooked or poorly understood. They are rarely taken fully into account
through economic signals in markets, or in day to day decisions by business and citizens, nor indeed reflected adequately in the accounts of society.

 

The steady loss of forests, soils, wetlands and coral reefs is closely tied to this economic invisibility. So too are the losses of species and of productive assets like fisheries, driven partly by ignoring values beyond the immediate and private. We are running down our natural capital stock without understanding the value of what we are losing. Missed opportunities to invest in this natural capital contribute to the biodiversity crisis
that is becoming more evident and more pressing by the day. The degradation of soils, air, water and biological resources can negatively impact on public health, food security, consumer choice and business opportunities. The rural poor, most dependent on the
natural resource base, are often hardest hit. Under such circumstances, strong public policies are of the utmost importance. These policy solutions need tailoring to be socially equitable, ecologically effective, and economically efficient.