I first heard of the term "ecosystem services" in the groundbreaking book "Natural Capitalism - Creating the Next Industrial Revolution" by Hunter Lovins, Paul Hawken and Amory Lovins. Essentially the concept is that ecosystems provide tangible value to the global economy far greater in scope and economic value than the economy itself.
I just came across an article on Science Daily which references a study which actually tallies the potential rate of return on investing in restoring particular ecosystems.
This is truly next level for me, as the concept of actually MAKING MONEY while RESTORING ECOSYSTEMS is very, very sexy indeed.
The article states:
"Experts concluding the global DIVERSITAS biodiversity conference in Cape Town described preliminary research revealing jaw-dropping dollar values of the "ecosystem services" of biomes like forests and coral reefs -- including food, pollution treatment and climate regulation. Undertaken to help societies make better-informed choices, the economic research shows a single hectare of coral reef, for example, provides annual services to humans valued at US $130,000 on average, rising to as much as $1.2 million."
The article cites estimated return estimates from such investments in various ecosystems:
"•Coral reefs: 7%, (with a cost-benefit ratio of 2.8);
•Rivers: 27%, (cost-benefit ratio 15.5);
•Tropical forests: 50% (cost-benefit ratio 37.3);
•Mangroves: 40%, (cost-benefit ratio 26.4);
•Grasslands: 79%, (cost-benefit ratio 75.1)."
If we could spur an investment gold rush into such endeavors to restore and actually expand such ecosystems we'd see a revolution in the church of money.
Imagine - greedy Wall Street Executives clamoring over eachother to restore more and more ecosystems. Now that is the closest thing as a good use for greed if I ever saw one.
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