Who should value nature?

Transcription

1 Who should value nature? Dario Kenner Why Green Economy? whygreeneconomy.org

2 Introduction Natural capital has been defined as the world s stocks of natural assets which include geology, soil, air, water and all living things. However, some groups strongly reject monetary valuation. My research: Who should value nature? The big focus of current debates on natural capital is if we should value nature and how to do it. While these largely abstract debates are crucial there s another question that is very rarely asked: who should value nature? My approach: What would actually happen if you tried to implement valuation on ground?

3 Valuation in practice Why does my research focus on developing countries? In the global south biodiversity-rich land is under intense pressure to be converted for mining, oil and gas extraction, logging, livestock, plantations, dams the list goes on. This momentum is only going to grow given that: 1) The vast majority of the world s population lives in developing countries (where some groups are increasing their consumption), 2) Extraction of raw materials for economic growth. 3) Developed countries outsourced production

4 Who is valuing nature in the global south?

5 Indigenous people s perspective Indigenous peoples often value the environment using nonmonetary values based on strong spiritual connections to their territories which involves living in harmony with nature. Indigenous territories estimated cover 20% world s land surface and hold 80% of the earth s remaining healthy biodiversity. Kari-Oca 2 declaration, June 2012 Mother Earth is the source of life which needs to be protected, not a resource to be exploited and commodified as natural capital.

6 Difficulties in working out who should value nature: land rights One starting point is to determine which stakeholders are involved by focusing on a clearly defined area based on common characteristics such as land use, land cover or ownership. But who owns land in the global south is not always clear e.g. in sub-saharan Africa it s estimated that around 90% of land is untitled Often overlapping claims e.g. research shows that out of 73,000 concessions for mining, oil, gas, agriculture in Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Indonesia, Liberia, Mozambique, Peru and the Philippines more than 93% of these developments were found to involve land inhabited by Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

7 Whose values will carry more weight?

8 Conclusions My research complements debates on whether and how nature should be valued by exploring who should value nature in the real world context of developing countries. It matters which stakeholders are valuing an area and what methodology they choose to use because this will influence whether they place monetary or non-monetary values on an area. Contested land rights in bio-diverse regions mean there could be different valuations (monetary or non-monetary) by diverse sets of stakeholders for the same ecosystems. How do we decide who should do the valuing and whose values are taken into account? Which stakeholders have the power to limit valuation to non-monetary values or to extend it to monetary values?

9 Future areas for research How will valuation affect outcomes? Values and trading: If we start putting monetary values on nature, will this lead to new markets to trade environmental services? If non-monetary values are used does this mean that trading would not be possible? Changing values (and prices): If there is a change in land ownership would this lead to changes in the values placed on an area of biodiversity because different stakeholders are involved? Green grabs: If valuing nature raises economic rents for land areas, will this lead to green grabs?

10 Contact Dario Kenner For some the green economy is the answer to the world's economic and environmental crises, while for others it is a false solution. The website Why Green Economy? is a space to share ideas from across the world on a new economic model to tackle climate change and protect the environment. whygreeneconomy.org