Valuing our environment

Scotland's economy and the well being of its people depend on nature's services  to deliver economic, social and health benefits.

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity  (TEEB) study is a major international initiative to draw attention to the global economic benefits of biodiversity. Continued loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services will jeopardise our long term economic development. The costs of failing to protect it far outweigh the costs of protecting it.

EU Biodiversity Strategy   requires that the value of ecosystem services be incorporated into national accounting and reporting systems by 2020.  

The UK National Ecosystem Assessment  reveals that nature is worth billions of pounds to the UK economy. For example:

• the UK's green spaces are worth at least £30bn a year in health and welfare benefits
• pollinators are worth £430million per year to British agriculture
• the benefits that inland wetlands bring to water quality are worth up to £1.5billion per year.

The Scottish Natural Heritage report on Valuing our Environment shows that 11% of Scotland's total economic output depends on sustainable use of the environment. This is worth £17.2 billion a year, and supports 1 in 7 of all full time jobs.