Natural Capital Initiative
Encyclopedia
The Natural Capital Initiative (NCI) is a partnership between the Society of Biology, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
and the British Ecological Society
. It was conceived in response to the increasing urgency in the need for more sustainable management of natural resources, as highlighted by the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
.
The NCI's aim is to facilitate communication between scientists, government, NGOs and businesses on environmental issues and promote an ecosystem approach to environmental management.
The initiative launched with a three-day symposium in London in April 2009 entitled Valuing our Life Support Systems. Invited speakers included Professor Bob Watson (Chief Scientific Advisor, DEFRA), Professor Lord May of Oxford (Climate Change Commission) and Professor John Beddington
(HM Government Chief Scientific Adviser). A report summarising the conclusions of the symposium was published in August 2009.
This event was followed in June 2009 by an evening discussion meeting on the subject of Sustainable Cities, as well as a debate in November 2009 From Tsunami to Drought. A further meeting is planned in early 2010.
The four main objectives of the Natural Capital Initiative are to:
Its steering group is chaired by Professor Rosie Hails from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is the United Kingdom's Centre of Excellence for integrated research in hydrology, terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and their interaction with the atmosphere...
and the British Ecological Society
British Ecological Society
The British Ecological Society is a learned society in the field of ecology that was founded in 1913. It was the first ecological society in the world. The society's original objective was "to promote and foster the study of Ecology in its widest sense" and this remains the central theme guiding...
. It was conceived in response to the increasing urgency in the need for more sustainable management of natural resources, as highlighted by the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, released in 2005, is an international synthesis by over 1000 of the world's leading biological scientists that analyses the state of the Earth’s ecosystems and provides summaries and guidelines for decision-makers...
.
The NCI's aim is to facilitate communication between scientists, government, NGOs and businesses on environmental issues and promote an ecosystem approach to environmental management.
The initiative launched with a three-day symposium in London in April 2009 entitled Valuing our Life Support Systems. Invited speakers included Professor Bob Watson (Chief Scientific Advisor, DEFRA), Professor Lord May of Oxford (Climate Change Commission) and Professor John Beddington
John Beddington
Sir John Rex Beddington, CMG, FRS is the Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government and Professor of Applied Population Biology at Imperial College London.-Early life:...
(HM Government Chief Scientific Adviser). A report summarising the conclusions of the symposium was published in August 2009.
This event was followed in June 2009 by an evening discussion meeting on the subject of Sustainable Cities, as well as a debate in November 2009 From Tsunami to Drought. A further meeting is planned in early 2010.
The four main objectives of the Natural Capital Initiative are to:
- Inform the Government's implementation of the ecosystems approach - a framework for looking at whole ecosystems in decision making and valuing the services they provide.
- Identify gaps in science, policy and implementation that inhibit an ecosystems approach.
- Work with government, parliament, agencies, NGOs, the private sector, scientific bodies and the wider public.
- Inspire the next generation to engage in the sustainable use of the natural environment.
Its steering group is chaired by Professor Rosie Hails from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
External links
- The Natural Capital Initiative homepage
- Videos of interviews with key speakers at the Valuing our Life Support Systems symposium
- British Ecological Society
- Society of Biology
- Defra Ecosystems Approach