Natural capital has value because it can provide beauty and enjoyment, support cultural identity, generate economic benefits, and possess worth independently of human use. In IB ESS Topic 7.1, these are aesthetic, cultural, economic, and intrinsic value; this content applies to both SL and HL.
Natural capital is the stock of natural resources available on Earth, such as forests, soils, freshwater, minerals and biodiversity. It produces natural income through renewable goods and ecosystem services, but its value is broader than the income humans obtain from it.
| Type of value | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic | Value derived from beauty, inspiration or recreation | People value a rainforest landscape for hiking, photography and enjoyment. |
| Cultural | Value arising from traditions, identity, religion or spiritual relationships | A forest may be sacred to an Indigenous community or central to local customs. |
| Economic | Monetary value from goods, employment or ecosystem services | Forests provide timber, tourism income, carbon storage and watershed protection. |
| Intrinsic | Worth that exists independently of usefulness to humans | A species may be considered valuable simply because it exists. |
For example, Costa Rica's forests generate economic value through ecotourism and ecosystem services, provide aesthetic value through their landscapes, and support cultural relationships with land. From an ecocentric perspective, their species also possess intrinsic value even if they produce no direct human benefit.
Value is dynamic: scientific discoveries, scarcity, technology and changing social perspectives can alter how natural capital is valued. Different stakeholders may also prioritize different values, creating conflict over resource management and environmental justice.
A common misconception is that natural capital is valuable only when it can be sold. Economic valuation captures some benefits, but cultural, aesthetic and intrinsic values may be difficult or inappropriate to express in money.
