7.1.3—Natural income
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 7.1.3
- Level
- SL
Natural Income Is the Flow
Natural income is the flow of goods and services produced by natural capital without depleting the supporting stock.
| Income type | Examples | Supporting stock/process |
|---|---|---|
| Goods | fish, timber | reproducing population or regenerating forest |
| Services | climate regulation, flood prevention | functioning atmosphere, vegetation, soil and wetland processes |
A forest can yield timber and also regulate water and climate; harvesting that damages the stock can reduce both market goods and non-market services.
Measure the flow per unit time and verify that the natural-capital stock and process remain functional.
A large stock does not justify any extraction rate, and services are income even when they have no market price.