Biomes, such as forests, oceans and wetlands, and bioregions such as the Arctic, are home to diverse and unique plant forms and animals and generate ecosystem services important at local, regional and global scales. Yet they continue to be rapidly lost or degraded in part because natural capital stocks and the flow of ecosystem services at the biome level are economically invisible, hence unaccounted for in public and private decision making.
Building on the TEEB approach to draw attention to the economic benefits of ecosystems services, studies have been initiated to capture the economic benefits of three biomes namely ocean and coastal biodiversity, and of water and wetlands and finally the Arctic.
The Biome studies seek to disclose the economic benefits of preserving these ecosystems, clear existing knowledge gaps about their functions, and support the mainstreaming of their values and considerations into both national policy-making and broader societal perspectives.
Measuring what matters in agriculture and food systems: a synthesis
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) (2018). Measuring what matters in agriculture and food systems: a synthesis of the results and recommendations of TEEB for Agriculture and Food’s Scientific and Economic Foundations report. Geneva: UN Environment. Download reportRead more
Scientific and Economic Foundations Report
The TEEBAgriFood ‘Scientific and Economic Foundations’ report addresses the core theoretical issues and controversies underpinning the evaluation of the nexus between the agri-food sector, biodiversity and ecosystem services and externalities including human health impacts from agriculture on a global scale. It argues the…Read more
TEEB Challenges and Responses
TEEB ‘s progress, challenges and responses towards mainstreaming the economics of nature. [ENG] [ESP]Read more
TEEB for Agriculture & Food Concept Note
February 2014- The Concept Note presents the case for and proposed outline content of a TEEB for Agriculture & Food study.Read more
Natural Capital Accounting and Water Quality: Commitments, Benefits, Needs and Progress
December 2013 – The briefing note outlines existing guidance and examples on water quality accounting and identifies the ongoing challenges related to the development of natural capital accounting and water quality accounting. Inspired by the growing global focus on natural capital accounting, the note identifies the ongoing challenges related to the development of natural capital accounting and water quality accounting, in order to encourage debate and commitment towards effective water and biodiversity policy.Read more