7.1.7—Natural capital value types
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 7.1.7
- Level
- SL
One Place Can Have Many Values
Natural capital can hold several kinds of value at once, and different stakeholders may weight them differently.
| Value | Typical basis or example |
|---|---|
| Aesthetic | experienced beauty of a landscape |
| Cultural | heritage, language or customary practice |
| Economic | marketable goods or income |
| Environmental | ecological function and services |
| Health | clean air, water or restorative space |
| Intrinsic | worth independent of human use |
| Social | relationships and community identity |
| Spiritual | sacred meaning or connection |
| Technological | knowledge, materials or future innovation |
A mangrove can be nursery habitat, storm protection, livelihood, cultural place and development land; a price captures only part of that value.
State value type, stakeholder, evidence and time horizon before comparing alternatives.
Different valuations do not imply that evidence is irrelevant; they show that several legitimate criteria may be in conflict.