How much is nature worth?

Plummeting wildlife populations have become a stark reminder that the planet and its resources are under tremendous pressure. Between 1970 and 2014, there has been a 60% fall in the numbers of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. That’s a decline of more than half across all vertebrate populations in just 44 years.

According to Marco Lambertini, Director General of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), humankind faces an important choice: to take concerted action to protect the planet and change our relationship with the natural world or squander that opportunity.

A lot of very necessary attention is given to projects such as whale conservation or tackling deforestation in the Amazon, or trying to boost the panda population through managed breeding programmes. But the importance of conservation work runs far deeper, says the WWF in a new report. By pointing out the economic contribution of the natural world, by highlighting its monetary value, it hopes to broaden the appeal of conservation.

The WWF’s Living Planet Index 2018 observes that nature underpins all economic activity, presently worth an estimated US$125 trillion.
 

Nature underpins all economic activity, presently worth an estimated US$125 trillion.

With biodiversity under increasing threat, the WWF hopes that highlighting the direct importance to people’s quality of life and economic activity will help focus attention on the importance of environmental issues.

Source
World Economic Forum