What does the environment cost? The Natural Capital Germany project, led by scientists from the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research, is dedicated to answering this question. The aim is to clarify the social value of ecosystems and to describe the diverse services provided by ecosystems and natural areas in Germany in a scientifically sound manner.
Karsten Schwanke, television journalist and metereologist, is a member of the Natural Capital project advisory board. In this interview, he explains why it is important to be able to quantify the value of nature.
People’s well-being depends on a well-functioning ecosystem. They provide oxygen for breathing, clean water, food, raw materials for medicines, industrial raw materials and are reservoirs for greenhouse gases, models for technical solutions and much more. They also provide a range of cultural services that significantly improve the quality of life: We enjoy a walk in the woods, the beauty of nature and the opportunities for recreation that nature offers us.
However, the loss of biodiversity, the finite nature of natural resources and the degradation of ecosystems are becoming increasingly apparent. The loss of ecosystem services is often difficult to compensate for and usually comes at a high cost, which is primarily reflected in the economy and has to be borne by the general public. Many international examples have demonstrated this: The protection and sustainable use of nature and biodiversity is worthwhile – also in economic terms. This has been impressively demonstrated by the results of the international TEEB initiative The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (2007-2010). Making these connections visible for Germany is an important goal of “Natural Capital Germany”.
For example, a social value is to be determined for forests, floodplains and moors as well as for urban green spaces and forests. And politicians and business leaders will then be confronted with these findings. An initial report on the climate is due to be published in 2013.The study is not intended to determine the monetary value of individual plants and animals or to indicate the monetary merit of nature in Germany. Instead, it will list examples of ecosystem services, such as the production of food, the influence of forests on the climate or the recreational qualities of the landscape. Values of biodiversity and ecosystems and their recording (slightly modified and translated according to ten Brink in TEEB 2008).
The graphic above is taken from the brochure “The value of nature for the economy and society”, which can be downloaded as a pdf.