7.1.2—Natural capital

Natural capital is the stock of natural resources available on Earth that can support future goods and services.

A local inventory can distinguish living renewable capital such as woodland, recurring or replenishable capital such as a river or aquifer, and non-renewable geological capital such as rock or mineral deposits.

Removing mature forest faster than regrowth raises present timber income while shrinking the stock and its future service capacity.

Identify the stock, its location and renewal timescale before claiming that local natural capital is secure.

Natural capital is not the same as annual income.