Why Invest in Natural Capital?

Arthur PascalDeyanira Reyes Moran

Fuji TjiangJennie Huang

What is Natural Capital?

The values of natural capital

This is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species.

25% of all mammals and one in three of world’s amphibians are facing the risk of extinction

The values of natural capital

“If we were running a business with the biosphere as our major asset, we would not allow it to depreciate. We would ensure that all necessary repairs and maintenance were carried out on a regular basis.”

Prof. Alan Malcolm, Chief Scientific Advisor, Institute of Biology, IUPAC

Current Situation

• Biodiversity and ecosystem services are in decline globally

• Increasing gap between the demand for natural resources (ecological footprint), and the environment’s ability to replenish those resources (biocapacity) is widening.

• For the last 35 years, global demand on natural capital has exceeded the ability of many ecosystem services to regenerate.

• Biocapacity deficit can only be made up by importing natural resources or by continuing to deplete natural capital significant economic and environmental implications

• Many governments, civil society, and the private sector are looking toward a future where incorporating natural capital into national accounts can support better decisions for inclusive development

• Natural capital accounting can provide detailed statistics for better management of the economy

• i.e land and water accounts can help countries interested in increasing hydro-power capacity to assess the value of competing land uses and the optimal way to meet this goal

• Ecosystems accounting not only provides a tool to maximize economic growth but is also a means to measure who benefits and bears the cost of ecosystem changes, helping governments gauge whether their growth is inclusive.

World Bank Organization

Why invest in Natural Capital?• It is a bet for our future • Part of the nature capital is non-

renewable• Part of the natural capital that

should be renewable, is not!• It should be normal to valorize

and to pay for the destruction and restoration of the natural capital (Andrew W. Mitchell)

• Consequences: So there is a need in investment, in order to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems

How to Invest in Natural Capital?• In making a distinction between

renewable (solar energy and wind power) and non-renewable (Fossil fuels) resources

• In considering this investment, as part of a global, international or common investment – long term impacts

• A good investment = investment in natural capital + coherent with other external investments +using renewable resources, while preserving biodiversity in the same time or in a smart way of using non-renewable resources

“With one conservation vision and with a view to promote people’s welfare, we will cooperate in ensuring the effective management of forest resources and conservation of a network of protected areas, productive forests and other sustainable land-uses within an area which the three respective countries will designate as the “Heart of Borneo (HoB).”

Heart of BorneoDeclaration (2007)

Value

• 22 million ha rainforest• 6% world’s total biodiversity• Water sources – 14 rivers• Ecosystem services• Tourism

Actions (Strategic Plan of Action):

• Transboundary Management• Protected Areas Management• Sustainable Natural Resource Management• Ecotourism Development• Capacity Building

Heart of Borneo full report: http://www.hobgreeneconomy.org/en/main-report