What evidence is needed to appraise and evaluate interventions related to Natural Capital, Nature-Based Solutions and private nature finance?

Background

Question Group: Focused on safeguarding and enhancing Scotland’s natural resources, its air, soils, land, water, plants and wildlife, by addressing the drivers of nature loss and environmental degradation. Emphasises restoration of degraded ecosystems, sustainable use of wild species, minimising of pollution, improving the management of invasive non-native species. Targets sustainable use of resources to support thriving communities, nature, and the economy in a changing climate.

Sub-questions: -What baseline data and metrics (environmental and socioeconomic) are required to support success measurements and robust monitoring for nature markets and how should they be managed?
- What can we do to improve quantification, avoid double counting and build market confidence? What impact do currently existing voluntary codes generate for non-carbon natural capital?
- Develop a framework for identifying, monitoring, and valuing ecosystem services/ co-benefits of Nature-Based Solutions.
- Can we adequately quantify the costs and benefits of investing in nature-based solutions in order to meet decision making requirements - e.g. nature restoration, Natural Flood Management (NFM), water quality?
-What social and economic data needs to be collected to understand distribution of benefits, as well as any negative/unintended consequences of private nature finance, e.g. on local employment, community/ economies, land prices etc.? This will consider Just Transition principles for land use.

Next steps

Get in touch with [email protected]

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

Environment natural resources agriculture research strategy 2027 2032

Related UKRI funded projects


  • ADVANCES (ADVancing Analysis of Natural Capital in LandscapE DecisionS)

    Natural Capital is a fundamental component of an economy's stock of resources upon which human health, well-being and wealth depend. Economic growth and development are conditioned by the economy's overall capital stock ...

    Funded by: SPF

    Lead research organisation: University of East Anglia

    Why might this be relevant?

    Addresses the need for developing better tools to assess changes in natural capital and ecosystem services.

  • Science-based Markets for Nature Recovery

    1. Our economy, livelihoods and well-being are dependent on biodiversity and associated ecosystem services. Yet, species are declining at the fastest rate recorded, driven by habitat loss, climate change, pollution, inva...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

    Why might this be relevant?

    Focuses on developing science-based markets for nature recovery and addressing barriers to investment in nature-positive projects.

  • Natural Environment Valuation Online (NEVO): Web-based tools for natural capital management and investment

    While many businesses and public sector organisations understand that natural capital is an important direct and indirect source of socio-economic prosperity, quality of life, and well-being, they frequently lack the cap...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

    Why might this be relevant?

    Develops web-based tools for natural capital management and investment, allowing users to quantify and value ecosystem services.

  • The Nature Investment Land Assessment Tool

    The UK's natural environment was valued at a stock of £1.5 trillion in 2021, but its habitats decreased by 24% from 1990 to 2024, reflecting a pressing need for investment into nature and natural restoration. Howe...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: CITY SCIENCE CORPORATION LIMITED

  • NEC05943 Natural Capital Knowledge Exchange to Support Healthy Local Economies (Open Call)

    Two current ambitions of the Government are: to create a fairer and more balanced economy in which all parts of the country benefit from growth that is environmentally sustainable and inter-generationally fair, as set ou...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

  • Landscape Regeneration Solutions to the Interlinked Extinction and Climate Crises that support Sustainable Development

    Nature-based solutions (NbS*) are responses to societal challenges that involve working with nature to deliver benefits for both people and biodiversity. They include protecting existing ecosystems, restoring degraded ec...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

    Why might this be relevant?

    Addresses the need for a framework for identifying, monitoring, and valuing ecosystem services of Nature-Based Solutions.

  • Interdisciplinary Network for Valuing Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Natural Resource Use

    Central to any attempt to maintain the crucial services of the environment is the need to have accurate information regarding the value of the services provided by natural resources, ecosystems and biodiversity. This is ...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: University of East Anglia

  • Nature Recovery and Regional Development

    The United Kingdom (UK) has set ambitious targets to reverse biodiversity decline and ensure that 30% of land and sea is protected for wildlife by 2030, simultaneously contributing to reaching net zero, adapting to clima...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

  • Planning for Nature Recovery: the role of spatial planning in preventing habitat and biodiversity loss

    What is the problem? Habitat and biodiversity loss are a global nature emergency, and urbanisation is a key driver. With the UK now one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe, governments have recently introdu...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Sheffield

  • Job share: Embedding environmental and geospatial science in nature recovery and rewilding

    Nature recovery projects that enable and support nature-driven processes and promote wilder nature for the benefit of people and wildlife are central to addressing the global environmental challenges of climate change, b...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: Queen Mary University of London