Using natural capital to account for nature’s services

By: Hege Otterholm

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<h1>Using natural capital to account for nature’s services</h1>
<h4>By: Hege Otterholm</h4>
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<p>Business leaders, <a href="https://www.scidev.net/governance/">governmental bodies</a> and some <a href="https://www.scidev.net/environment/">environmental</a> groups are coming together to push for the wider use the practice of accounting for nature’s ‘services’ in balance sheets, to demonstrate to businesses the importance of valuing and caring for these resources.<br />
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Opponents believe this is putting commonly owned natural goods and services up for sale and fear the practice will further the view of nature as a commodity free to be traded in financial markets.<br />
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But experts say that giving a value to natural capital may help developing countries protect their resources and provide better metrics for more equitable international <a href="https://www.scidev.net/enterprise/trade/">trading</a>.</p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/multimedia/natural-capital-nature-services/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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Business leaders, governmental bodies and some environmental groups are coming together to push for the wider use the practice of accounting for nature’s ‘services’ in balance sheets, to demonstrate to businesses the importance of valuing and caring for these resources.

Opponents believe this is putting commonly owned natural goods and services up for sale and fear the practice will further the view of nature as a commodity free to be traded in financial markets.

But experts say that giving a value to natural capital may help developing countries protect their resources and provide better metrics for more equitable international trading.