A Handbook for Understanding Natural Capital - Earth Economics

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What happens when ecosystems disappear When ecosystems are destroyed we lose the services they once provided and the effects can be devastating. Floods. Covering the earth’s soil with impervious surfaces (such as pavement and buildings) increases the risk of flooding. One of the most significant factors in an ecosystem’s ability to prevent flooding is the absorption capacity of the land. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that urban development leads to 100-600% more flooding for two-year storm events. Increased flooding means more property damage, lost work time, injuries, and loss of life. Reduced air quality. Cutting down trees lowers air quality. In Washington’s Puget Sound area alone, urban forests remove approximately 78 million pounds of pollutants per year. Having these gasses sequestered by forests saved $166.5 million per year in avoided health care costs and other costs for the region in 1996. When we strip away this resource, we lose the valuable gas regulating service; the lower air quality causes health care costs to spike as the incidence of respiratory diseases rise. Erosion. Land clearing (removing stabilizing native vegetation) increases the likelihood of landslides and water run-off due to changes in drainage patterns. When we construct bulkheads and seawalls, the earth’s natural ability to build and maintain shorelines is disrupted. This leads to the destruction of marine wildlife habitat and intensifies erosion on nearby beaches and shorelines. Loss of or sudden change in shoreline can result in private property damage, public infrastructure damage, loss of wildlife habitat, and loss of life. Floods, landslides, and poor air quality are but a few of the consequences we suffer when ecosystems are destroyed. Ecosystems give us natural resources like clean water and air that we cannot live without. These are provided free of 9charge. As ecosystems are lost, so are the services those ecosystems previously provided.
Built Capital Natural Capital Definition Goods manufactured by humans. Goods or services provided by nature. Infrastructure Term(s) Built Infrastructure Green Infrastructure Blue-Green Infrastructure Natural Infrastructure Examples • Roads and bridges • Water pumping and filtration plants • Electrical grid • Computers and electronics • Buildings and parking lots • Dams and levees • Cars and boats Investment Pros • Creates short-term jobs • Enables technology transfers within and between countries • Downstream industry creation (repair and replacement, secondary markets) Investment Cons • High initial investment costs • High maintenance costs • Frequently contributes to water and air pollution • Potentially high costs of remediation • Future regulatory uncertainty • Typically provides only short term benefits • Depreciates in economic value over time • Wetlands • Shorelines, beaches, and dunes • Glaciers • Aquifers • Forests and prairies • Rivers and lakes • Oceans and seas • Little or no initial investment cost • Low maintenance and highly sustainable for generations into the future • Supports long-term, place-based jobs that cannot be outsourced • Left intact will support surrounding ecosystems, animals, and people • Provides long-term benefits • Appreciates in economic value over time • Requires political will and public awareness • Complex dependencies on surrounding ecosystems • Difficult to finance with current accounting and bond rules 10
Page 1 and 2: WHAT IS YOUR PLANET WORTH A Handboo
Page 3 and 4: suggested citation Schrier, A. V.,
Page 5 and 6: Things are changing! Exciting metho
Page 7 and 8: BENEFITS OF A HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM Wha
Page 9 and 10: WHAT DO WE PAY FOR THESE SERVICES T
Page 11: SO WHAT’S THE PROBLEM As ecosyste
Page 15 and 16: s in action WATERSHEDS The federal
Page 17: s in action MANGROVE FORESTS Mangro
Page 21 and 22: MAKING A CASE FOR INVESTING IN ECOS
Page 23: Are Values of Ecosystem Services th
Page 26 and 27: Who uses Ecosystem Service Valuatio
Page 28 and 29: The Ecosystem Valuation Toolkit: St
Page 31 and 32: IS CALCULATING AN ECOSYSTEM’S VAL
Page 33: Creative Funding Concepts Engage th
Page 37 and 38: ABOUT EARTH ECONOMICS Since 1998, t
Page 39 and 40: Resource Primary Developer Descript
Page 41 and 42: CITATIONS 1 Vitousek, P., Ehrlich,
Page 43 and 44: IMAGE CITATIONS PAGE CITATION PAGE

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