Nature is a complex, interconnected system that supports all of life. Whether we live in the city or the countryside, natural systems support is real and significant. Natural system services provide millions of dollars every year in recreational revenues and avoid costs for governments, businesses, and residents. Nature’s benefits impact our quality of life, health, cost of living, sense of place, and economy. These benefits are reliably delivered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Once lost, these benefits are expensive and difficult to replace. If the goal is to maximize health, safety, and social welfare—and to conserve and maintain public natural resources—our policy process must distinguish clear and concrete economic values from which to choose.
Mother Nature doesn't write receipts. As a result, nature is often taken for granted, undervalued, or overlooked in policy debates, investment decisions, and personal choices. When nature is undervalued, forest fragmentation, stormwater, flooding, water and air pollution, and loss of habitat may result in choices that damage the sustainability of natural systems and the economy. Return on Environment (ROE) studies explain nature’s invisible financial value in terms everyone can understand. Putting a dollar value on nature is a new way to help policymakers, businesses, investors, and residents realize the financial value of natural system services in all resource-related decisions. This allows nature to be seen as a portfolio of financial assets rather than a commodity or unnecessary expense. The major objective of Return on Environment (ROE) studies is to make enhancing nature and expanding the local economy a central goal among policymakers, businesses, and residents. This approach can help improve environmental quality and ensure a sustainable economy.
This webinar will highlight the Carbon County Return on Environment (ROE) report that demonstrates how open space is greatly contributing to the health of the local economy, as well as to a lower cost of living and improved quality of life for Carbon County citizens.