Natural capital provides many social, economic, and environmental benefits within Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, and continued degradation of ecosystems by stamp sands threatens the environment and local economies.
As natural capital, the ecosystems of Biscayne Bay form the foundation of our lives and economies. Enhancing the health of the bay leads to improved resilience for Florida and the surrounding the region. Building resilience includes, but isn’t limited to, increasing protection from storms, ensuring reliable drinking water, enabling continued recreational and commercial fishing, and buffering sea level rise.
The shoreline and marine ecosystems of San Juan County provide benefits that would be impractical or even impossible to replace, including water quality, air quality, flood risk reduction, and habitat for threatened and endangered species. Once lost, these services that the county receives for free must be replaced with costly built solutions, which are often less resilient and shorter-lived. Understanding and accounting for ecosystem services reveals the true economic benefits of healthy ecosystems and the true economic damages that pollution events such as oil spills generate for communities like the San Juan County.
In 2017, Earth Economics consulted with the Puyallup Watershed Initiative to prepare an exploratory report to better understand the potential tradeoffs that can occur when developing properties in incorporated and unincorporated Pierce County.
The Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) is a flagship species, a cultural icon, and an economic driver for Washington State. To better understand the economic incentives to invest in SRKW recovery, Earth Economics conducted an economic contribution analysis to estimate the value of whale watching in San Juan County.
Forests are among Pierce County's most valuable natural assets, supporting clean water and air, bolstering climate stability, and sustaining local communities.
Nature and natural infrastructure are critical assets in strengthening cities’ resilience to a broad range of shocks and stresses.
A collaboration among economists and conservation organizations in three counties have released the Healthy Lands & Healthy Economies Initiative – a regional and Sonoma County report that estimates the value of our working and natural lands, our ‘natural capital.’
Colorado has long been a leader in innovative funding for recreation. The commission is interested in a larger conversation around long-term funding, with the understanding of changing demographics and increased pressure on Colorado’s recreation lands.
Discovery Park is an important natural asset for the City of Seattle. The park has provided ecosystem benefits for generations, and continues to support a vibrant culture and robust economy today.