Table of Contents
What is the difference between ecosystem services and natural capital?
Natural capital describes the natural assets in the world around us, such as plants, rivers, soil and animals. Ecosystem services describe the flow of benefits which we gain from this natural capital.
How is natural capital measured?
The natural capital estimates being developed are measured in both physical units—how many trees or acreage of forest are there, and in monetary terms—what is the value of woodland. Both measures may be important for different reasons.
Why is measurement of natural capital important for ecological sustainability?
Therefore, taking nature for granted can have grave consequences. We all rely on natural capital; oceans, minerals ecosystems, and atmosphere. We also heavily depend on services natural capital provides like fuel, food, fiber medicines, and services like water filtration, erosion control, and climate regulation.
What are the key components of natural capital?
Natural capital comprises two major components: Abiotic natural capital comprises subsoil assets (e.g. fossil fuels, minerals, metals) and abiotic flows (e.g. wind and solar energy).
What is the difference between natural resources and natural capital?
Natural resources are things that come from nature and are unchanged by human hands. Examples of natural resources are water, air, trees, minerals, and animals. Capital resources are man-made tools and equipment used to produce a product.
Which of the following does not belong to the natural capital natural resource?
Electricity though produced from natural resources it requires different processes to generate electricity and hence is not a natural resource.
Why do we need natural capital?
Some natural capital assets provide people with free goods and services, often called ecosystem services. All of these underpin our economy and society, and thus make human life possible.
What is an example of natural capital in geography?
Examples of natural capital include: minerals; water; waste assimilation; carbon dioxide absorption; arable land; habitat; fossil fuels; erosion control; recreation; visual amenity; biodiversity; temperature regulation and oxygen.
What are the elements of natural capital?
As we see from this definition, natural capital includes both living resources, such as trees, plants, crops and wildlife, as well as non-living resources, such as coal, oil and natural gas. It is easy to see that the elements of natural capital are essential for human survival.
What is environmental ethics?
Environmental ethics is the discipline in philosophy that studies the moral relationship of human beings to, and also the value and moral status of, the environment and its non-human contents.