What is Nature Worth?

I have to share this video: “Big Question What is Nature Worth” from the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment.  It ties in with my previous blog about the Canadian Index of Wellbeing, in that it addresses how nature–our land, water, air, and ecosystems–have value.  The Wellbeing Index takes into account the status of our natural world as well as other socio-economic indicators of quality of life.

The Natural Capital Project is creating methods of quantifying and calculating the value of biodiversity.  The underlying idea, presented in the video is that nature provides “goods and services” that have economic value and are essential for human life. Beyond the economic message is a basic introduction to ecology–great for young and old.