Nature provides us with everything we need to survive: food, water, materials, clean air, energy, a moderate climate – you name it.
But how much is nature worth, really?
It’s a question that increasingly gets asked in a world where everything seems to come with a price tag – even the things we couldn’t possibly live without.
These numbers are designed to serve a single purpose: to perpetuate a cycle of infinite economic growth, one that our finite planet can’t support.
After all, if we put a number on nature, what happens to life itself? Can we really put a monetary value on the air we breathe, the water that nourishes us or the ecosystems that sustain us?
As we commodify forests, food, water and even carbon, where does nature begin— and where does it end?
But beyond the frameworks and figures, our experts shared powerful reflections on the true value of nature – and why it can’t simply be distilled into numbers. Here are four perspectives we heard.
1. We need a paradigm shift
“Biodiversity conservation begins with a paradigm shift rooted in the Indigenous perspective, recognizing the deep interconnection between humanity and nature.”
For the world’s Indigenous Peoples, humans aren’t separate from nature, but rather an integral part of it.
Ceiça Pitaguary, Brazil’s secretary of Indigenous, environmental and territorial management, reminded us that real solutions start by seeing the world through this lens: one where people and ecosystems thrive together, not apart.
An important first step in thinking about nature might be to stop viewing it as a commodifiable element external to us and instead recognize it as an integral part of who we are.
2. Bankers must think long-term
“We need finance reform, in particular how we articulate the long-term sustainable financing of synergistic biodiversity, climate, and development action, and we need this to be enshrined in global commitments.”
It’s time for a fundamental shift in how we approach finance – not just as a tool for profit but as a means to create lasting, equitable systems that support both nature and people, said Ameil Harikishun, finance thematic lead at the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN).
3. You can’t sell nature
“When we talk about finance for nature, we are still only thinking about the economic and financial perspective. We must recognize this diversity of values of nature. Nature is unique. Nature is not tradable.”
Nature’s worth isn’t just financial, said Heitor Dellasta, conservation and climate finance specialist at Sitawi.
It’s cultural, spiritual and intrinsic – and only by embracing this diversity can we create inclusive solutions that respect all perspectives.
4. We don’t really know how much nature is worth
“Nature’s diversity holds value beyond economics, much of it unknown and unquantified. We must recognize and value what the market overlooks”
There’s much more to nature than meets the eye, said Subhra Bhattacharjee, director general of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
For instance, traditional economic models don’t account for its complexity, including both positive and negative feedback loops that can cascade rapidly with unforeseen consequences.
Rethinking the value of nature
Perhaps the true value of nature lies not in its price but in its ability to exist, thrive and sustain life beyond markets. It reminds us that our well-being depends on respecting natural limits and redefining prosperity.
As our speakers pointed out, the first step in valuing nature is to stop thinking of it as external or commodifiable. Instead, we must see nature as an intrinsic part of who we are – a reflection of our own existence and well-being.
While nature’s value may not fit neatly into economic models, its preservation is priceless. As we chart a path toward sustainable funding for biodiversity, it’s clear that a shift in perspective, systems and action is essential – and it begins with all of us.
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