How much is the environment really worth? Let’s count!

The trouble is that we still need to learn to appreciate the advantages of nature. Although scientists and conservationists understand the value of natural areas, it is primarily complex for even professionals to calculate and explain their value.

What did the head of the community miss in his calculations? The advantages of nature have a particular value.

If the area is drained:

• the river will begin to flood the houses downstream, so the community will have to spend a genuine amount on flood defenses. Today, the wetland provides these services;
  the water level in the wells will drop, and residents will be forced to buy a certain number of cubic meters for part of the year. It is also a particular amount of services provided by the wetland;
• in the summer heat, the air will warm up several degrees higher, which is discomfort for residents and additional costs for the operation of air conditioners;
  decrease in the number of fish in the river because it spawns in shallow water;
• a certain number of populations of red book species that have a specific value.

If you calculate the potential losses, the money earned from the sale of the plot may be less attractive. However, the problem is that neither the officials nor the majority of scientists have sufficient knowledge and skills to calculate and explain the benefits of nature. This gap is critically important to fill.

Our organization, together with colleagues – non-governmental organizations from 4 EU countries, is preparing a training course for experts and scientists to learn how to evaluate the benefits of nature. The Nature benefits: from theory to practice course with the support of Erasmus + will appear by the end of this year. And his recording and educational materials will later be available for everyone to view. So, we would like to encourage you to join the course and learn to evaluate the advantages of nature objectively. Follow our news so you can take advantage of it.