The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital

Robert Costanza, Ralph d'Arge, Rudolf de Groot, Stephen Farber, Monica Grasso, Bruce Hannon, Karin Limburg, Shahid Naeem, Robert V. O'Neill, Jose Paruelo, Robert G. Raskin, Paul Sutton and Marjan van den Belt
Additional contact information
Robert Costanza: University of Maryland
Rudolf de Groot: Wageningen Agricultural University
Stephen Farber: University of Pittsburgh
Monica Grasso: University of Maryland
Bruce Hannon: University of Illinois
Karin Limburg: Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Shahid Naeem: University of Minnesota
Robert V. O'Neill: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Jose Paruelo: University of Buenos Aires
Robert G. Raskin: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Paul Sutton: University of California at Santa Barbara
Marjan van den Belt: Ecological Economics Research and Applications Inc.

Nature, 1997, vol. 387, issue 6630, 253-260

Abstract: Abstract The services of ecological systems and the natural capital stocks that produce them are critical to the functioning of the Earth's life-support system. They contribute to human welfare, both directly and indirectly, and therefore represent part of the total economic value of the planet. We have estimated the current economic value of 17 ecosystem services for 16 biomes, based on published studies and a few original calculations. For the entire biosphere, the value (most of which is outside the market) is estimated to be in the range of US$16-54 trillion (1012) per year, with an average of US$33 trillion per year. Because of the nature of the uncertainties, this must be considered a minimum estimate. Global gross national product total is around US$18 trillion per year.

Date: 1997
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DOI: 10.1038/387253a0

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