About
The health of our planet and the well-being of future generations depend on our ability to recognize and integrate the true value of nature. Healthy ecosystems provide ecosystem services, or nature’s contributions to people, like erosion control, freshwater provisioning, pollination and climate regulation, which underpin quality of life and economic stability. Yet as ecosystems globally face degradation, the vital contributions they make to our economies and societies diminish.
Despite the clear benefits of nature-positive approaches, such as effective management of protected areas, agroecological farming practices and green infrastructure, these strategies are often underutilized in both public and private sectors.
Recognizing the value of nature, demonstrating this to decision-makers at all levels and in all sectors across the public and private sectors, and ultimately capturing these values in decision-making is vital.
Traditional economic measures like GDP frequently overlook environmental damage and fail to capture nature’s true value. Moving beyond GDP and integrating nature’s value into economic assessments is vital for tackling the nature crisis effectively.
While valuing nature doesn’t mean putting a price tag on every bee and tree, assigning a tangible economic value helps societies and decision-makers better understand their role in sustaining life on Earth and supporting economies while improvising societal and business outcomes.
Connecting nature’s value to agriculture
In the context of agriculture, recognizing the full value of nature is especially critical. The global food system, which is a major driver of biodiversity loss, directly impacts ecosystems through practices that lead to habitat destruction, pollution and unsustainable resource use.
FACT BOX:
- Over the past 50 years, pollution by fertilizers, chemicals and pesticides and the conversion of natural ecosystems for crop production or pasture has been the principal cause of habitat loss, in turn reducing biodiversity.
- Food production itself has caused wide-scale changes in ecosystems, being responsible for 70 per cent of water withdrawals and a significant driver of deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
- Agricultural expansion is said to account for 70 per cent of the projected loss of terrestrial biodiversity.
Advancing sustainable agriculture with TEEBAgriFood
To address the complexities of food systems and their impact on nature, UNEP’s TEEB for Agriculture and Food Initiative (TEEBAgriFood) is leading efforts to transform decision-making by integrating the value of nature into economic assessments, thereby promoting policies and practices that support sustainable development. It provides a comprehensive framework that goes beyond conventional economic measures and considers the full spectrum of impacts of food and agriculture systems on four capitals: human, social, produced, and natural.
By equipping policymakers, businesses and communities with the tools to evaluate these systems holistically, UNEP is fostering a global shift towards more sustainable practices.
