Nature isn't a commodity that should be bought, sold and traded
1st May, 2011
Dr Kate Rawles
Defra's attempt to put a price tag on nature with its National Ecosystem Assessment may reinforce the dangerous conceit that our own place in ecosystems is more important than any other, argues Dr Kate Rawles
Early environmental ethicist Aldo Leopold says 'we abuse land because we see it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect'.
A common answer to the question, ‘what is biodiversity?’ posed by Defra in a public survey was...washing powder. Raising awareness of what biodiversity is and why we need it seems crucial if we are to inspire support for its protection.
From this perspective, the various moves to bring the importance of ‘nature’ – of natural systems and other living beings – into mainstream consciousness and mainstream economics by assigning them economic and other instrumental values can appear to be a giant step in the right direction.
Even the less biologically-challenged tend to equate biodiversity loss with the tragic demise of the polar bear and other charismatic megafauna, rather than with the degradation of ecosystems and hence of ecosystem services. These services include pollination, soil fertility, clean water, carbon cycles; all critical to food and farming and our survival more generally.
A common answer to the question, ‘what is biodiversity?’ posed by Defra in a public survey was...washing powder. Raising awareness of what biodiversity is and why we need it seems crucial if we are to inspire support for its protection.
From this perspective, the various moves to bring the importance of ‘nature’ – of natural systems and other living beings – into mainstream consciousness and mainstream economics by assigning them economic and other instrumental values can appear to be a giant step in the right direction.
Even the less biologically-challenged tend to equate biodiversity loss with the tragic demise of the polar bear and other charismatic megafauna, rather than with the degradation of ecosystems and hence of ecosystem services. These services include pollination, soil fertility, clean water, carbon cycles; all critical to food and farming and our survival more generally.
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