1. Overview
- In brief, UK Natural Capital is comprised by all the ecosystem services which UK natural assets provide. Natural assets include soil, air, water and all living things.
- Accounting for natural capital is important as many of the most valuable services it provides are intangible so they’re often overlooked. Therefore, prior to creating natural capital accounts decisions can frequently be made without best representing the environment.
- We are constantly expanding and developing our work to stay on path with our 2020 Roadmap. We welcome all those with expertise in any area of future work to contact us at environment.accounts@ons.gov.uk
2. Publications
Roadmaps:
2020 Roadmap
Released: 12 July 2018
Article2015 Roadmap
Released: 20th March 2015
Article2012 Roadmap
Released: October 2012
Article
Natural Capital monetary estimates:
UK natural capital accounts: 2019
Released: 18 October 2019
Statistical bulletinScottish natural capital: Ecosystem Service Accounts, 2019
Released: 22 March 2019
Statistical bulletinUK natural capital: Ecosystem service accounts 1997 to 2015
Released: 30th January 2018
Statistical bulletinUK Natural Capital: Monetary Estimates, 2016
Released: 30th November 2016
Statistical BulletinUK Natural Capital: Monetary Estimates, 2014
Released: 2nd May 2014
Statistical Bulletin
Habitat accounts include:
UK natural capital: urban accounts
Released: 08 August 2019
Statistical bulletinUK natural capital: mountains, moorland and heath accounts Released: 22 July 2019
Statistical bulletinUK natural capital: ecosystem accounts for urban areas
Released: 12 July 2018
Statistical bulletinEcosystem Accounts for Freshwater, Farmland and Woodland
Released: 25th July 2017
Statistical Bulletin
Cross-cutting accounts include:
UK natural capital: peatlands
Released: 22 July 2019
Statistical BulletinCarbon Stock
Released: 28 June 2016
Statistical BulletinProtected Areas
Released: September 2015
ReportLand Cover
Released: 17 March 2015
Statistical BulletinLand Use
Released: 2013
Statistical Bulletin
Scoping studies include:
Semi-natural Grassland Released: 19 April 2018
Urban
Released: October 2017Mountains, Moorlands and Heathlands
Released: 21st July 2017Coastal Margins
Released: 28th June 2016Peatlands
Released: March 2015Spatially Disaggregated Woodland and Marine
Released: September 2014
Methodology reports:
Scoping UK Urban Natural Capital Accounts – Extension to develop temperature regulation estimates – NR0172
Released: June 2018
Methodology ReportScoping UK Urban Natural Capital Accounts – Extending noise regulation estimates – NR0170
Released: July 2018
Methodology ReportPrinciples of Natural Capital Accounting
Released: 24th February 2017
Methodology ReportDiscounting for Environmental Accounts
Released: 30th November 2016
Methodology ReportValuing Flood-Regulating Services for Inclusion in the UK Ecosystem Accounts
Released: 30th November 2016
Methodology ReportReviewing Cultural Services Valuation Methodology for Inclusion in Aggregate UK Natural Capital Estimates
Released: 30th November 2016
Methodology Report
Seminar notes:
- 2013 Pimlico Seminar Summary Notes and Supporting Documents
Released: 11th November 2013
Summary Notes
Articles:
UK air pollution removal: how much pollution does vegetation remove in your area?
Released 30th July 2018The UK environment - fighting pollution, improving our health and saving us money Released 2nd October 2017
3. Why it’s important to measure natural capital
Natural assets provide a wide range of ecosystem services that make human life possible: the food we eat, the water we drink and the plant materials we use for fuel, building materials and medicines, to name a few. They also provide less visible services such as climate regulation, the natural flood defences provided by forests, removal of air pollutants by vegetation, and the pollination of crops by insects. Then there’s the inspiration we take from wildlife and the natural environment. Yet despite nature being priceless, it is not valueless.
We take a balanced approach to producing natural capital accounts; which entails creating stock and flow accounts of specific habitats or services. This means we are able to focus development on key accounts where the policy interest lies. All these specific accounts are then amalgamated into a national UK natural capital account which provides a “quick overview” of UK natural capital. The ultimate goal of the ONS-Defra project is to incorporate UK natural capital into the UK Environmental Accounts by 2020.
Natural Capital is predominantly hidden, partial or missing from the nation’s balance sheet. However, by providing valuations of the UK’s natural capital, decision makers can better include the environment in their plans to allocate resources to develop, and promote the growth of, the economy.
Nôl i'r tabl cynnwys