Natural Capital Germany – TEEB DE

"Natural Capital Germany - TEEB DE" focuses on nature's services at the national level. The main task is to produce four topic-based reports presenting the economic case for nature conservation, as a complement to ethical and ecological arguments.
The following key policy issues are being addressed:
Numerous individuals from academia, public policy, business and civil society are collaborating on the reports and are contributing via the project's interactive website. "Natural Capital Germany" seeks to synthesize current research on ecosystem service valuation and to showcase successful examples of taking into account the social and economic importance of natural capital in Germany.
The superior goal of the project is to make visible the societal significance and value of nature and its associated ecosystem services for Germany and to take better account of them in public and private decisions. In more detail, "Natural Capital Germany" seeks to
From 2012 to 2015 four reports will be produced as the project's main output, accompanied by two brochures.
Reports:
Brochures:
The project is based on the latest information on the potential climate change (IPCC 5th Assessment Report
Other parameters that can affect species and habitats
up to 2100
The geographical distribution of animals and plants is - in addition to the availability of suitable habitats - limited by climatic parameters. Small- or large-scale changes in climatic conditions, affects the composition of flora and fauna of an ecosystem and accordingly the interactions between species and the processes and products of which people benefit: the ecosystem services.
There are various connections and interdependencies between climate change, the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services:
Ecosystem-based approaches make use of nature`s services for adaptation to climate change. They create opportunities for a climate policy that strengthens the adaptability to climate change of land use systems while maintaining and promoting biodiversity and ecosystem services. Thus the flexibility of ecosystems to adapt to climate change can be strengthened significantly.
To illustrate this, studies and case studies have been collected, demonstrating the efficiency of nature-friendly or nature conservation measures. These are presented online in a searchable database and an active map. In many cases these case studies can also serve to climate adaptation.
Example for a case study: Facilitating rivers to flow and saving costs:
Natural flood protection with ecological services at the Elbe
Unimpaired river flood plains provide valuable habitats for a highly diverse flora and fauna. In addition, they serve as natural buffer against floods and they help to decrease nutrient loads in our rivers. Therefore, costs for building expensive dike systems and water treatment plants can be saved. Due to climate change the number of flood events is likely to increase over the next years. Thus, cheap solutions for flood control have to be found. Cost-benefit-analyses have shown that dike relocation with flood plains is a cost-efficient protection against flood damages and it can simultaneously support ecosystem services.
Additionally, options are shown to improve the integration of nature´s value into private and public decisions, to obtain a careful use of scarce natural resources.
Some instruments of the climate and energy policy can have a negative impact on nature and ecosystem services. Analyses of synergies and potential conflicts between climate policy and nature conservation can be improved by identifying and economic assessment of climate-related (and others) nature’s services.
Economic recommendations for taking advantage of synergies between climate- and biodiversity policies include such as the conservation of ecosystems with high storage and sink potential (establishment of the No Net Loss concept concerning the carbon storage), the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems and a land utilization which is more climate protection oriented.
Up to now there is no comprehensive climate policy goal for emission reductions in the agricultural sector that is backed up with measures.
For taking advantage of synergies between climate protection and biodiversity conservation two objectives need to be considered in particular:
Regarding the sector of forestry there is no coherent concept yet as well. Concerning the mitigation it appears to be hardly possible to increase the existing synergies between biodiversity conservation and climate protection in forest management, due to the interactions of carbon storage in forests, harvested wood and substitution of greenhouse products.
There is therefore a high demand for research in this field. The degree of substitution in terms of timber products could be increased by expanding the cascaded utilization and by giving priority to the material use.
The central aim of the project is the economic valorisation of nature capital in Germany, since there is a significant economic value of nature due to the wide range of ecosystem services. Often this value is absent from private and public sector decision making. In most cases this lack of consideration is unintentional, as decision makers are not aware of these free benefits from nature. An economic perspective can generate more transparency.
The aim of economic valuation is not to put a price tag on plants and animals but rather to uncover the hidden value of biological diversity and ecosystem services - the value of "natural capital" - for society.
Funding by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with funds from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB)
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)
Members of the Stakeholder Committee:
Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung (UFZ)gemeinnützige GmbH
Theodor-Lieser-Straße 4
D-06120 Halle/Saale