Natural capital refers to ecosystems that provide valuable goods and services. Forests provide timber but also protect from flooding, while tropical seas provide fish but also support tourism. Resources are classified as renewable if replenished at harvest rate, replenishable if replenished by solar energy, and non-renewable if not replenished within the timescale used. What is considered a resource changes over time and depends on economic and supply factors. Assessing sustainability requires considering whether capital is depleted to support a system.

1. cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m
3.2 Resources - natural capital
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

2. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.1: Explain the concept of resources in terms
of natural income.
What is natural capital?
Natural capital can be thought of as the stock of an ecosystem
than can yield a supply valuable ecosystem goods or services
Forest along a river may
provide a timber crop
(goods) but may be more
valuable protecting the land
from flooding and soil
cebitz.
erosion (service)
n
co
Scie
m

3. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.1: Explain the concept of resources in terms
of natural income.
What is natural capital?
Another example are tropical
seas:
Catching fish provides a crop
for locals
But the tropical sea may be
more valuable as an aesthetic
cebitz.
service for tourism
n
co
Scie
m

4. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.2: Define the terms renewable, replenishable
and non‐renewable natural capital.
Renewable natural capital
Natural resources that have a
sustainable yield or harvest
equal to or less than their
natural productivity;
For example, food crops,
timber.
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

5. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.2: Define the terms renewable, replenishable
and non‐renewable natural capital.
Replenishable natural capital
Non-living natural resources
that depend on the energy of
the Sun for their
replenishment;
For example, groundwater.
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

6. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.2: Define the terms renewable, replenishable
and non‐renewable natural capital.
Non-renewable natural capital
Natural resources that cannot
be replenished within a
timescale of the same order as
that at which they are taken
from the environment and
used;
For example, fossil fuels.
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

7. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.3: Explain the dynamic nature of the concept
of a resource.
The resources we use change over time
For centuries wood was the
main source of energy for
most of Europe as well as the
rest of the World.
During the last century oil has
become the most important
energy resource
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

8. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.3: Explain the dynamic nature of the concept
of a resource.
The resources we use change over time
However concerns about the
environmental consequences
of burning greater amounts of
fossil fuels has led to an
increased use of renewable
energy resources
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

9. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.3: Explain the dynamic nature of the concept
of a resource.
The resources we use change over time
Choice of which resources are used are often tied to
questions of economic costs and available supply
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

10. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.4: Discuss the view that the environment can
have its own intrinsic value.
Does the environment have value for its own sake?
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

11. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.4: Discuss the view that the environment can
have its own intrinsic value.
Does the environment have value for its own sake?
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

12. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.4: Discuss the view that the environment can
have its own intrinsic value.
How do you put value on:
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

13. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.4: Discuss the view that the environment can
have its own intrinsic value.
How do you put value on:
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

14. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.4: Discuss the view that the environment can
have its own intrinsic value.
How do you put value on:
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

15. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.4: Discuss the view that the environment can
have its own intrinsic value.
How do you put value on:
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

16. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.5: Explain the concept of sustainability in
terms of natural capital and natural income.
Two different cattle production methods
Comparing cattle systems
Himba nomadic cattle grazing Intensive beef production
Both can be sustainable
Nomadic grazing
if long- term harvest (or
moving from place
to place so land has
chance to recover pollution) rates do not
Cattle survive on
exceed rates of capital
low grade natural
forage with no
supplements renewal
During drought
cattle die as
grass disappears
adding patches
of nutrients to
cebitz. the soil
n
co
Scie
m

17. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.5: Explain the concept of sustainability in
terms of natural capital and natural income.
Two different cattle production methods
However if a system
supports itself in part by
depleting essential forms
of natural capital it is
unsustainable
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

18. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.6: Discuss the concept of sustainable
development.
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development has been defined as: “development
that meets current needs without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.”Our Common
Future (The Brundtland Report) 1987
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

19. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.6: Discuss the concept of sustainable
development.
What is sustainable development is not
Since the end of the Soviet era oil production on and
around the Caspian sea in Azerbaijan has soared. While
this has generated great wealth for some Azerbaijani’s
and huge profits for many Western Oil Companies it has
led to an ecological disaster in ecosystems of the Caspian
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

20. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.6: Discuss the concept of sustainable
development.
What is sustainable development is not
Russia
Azerbiajan
Caspian sea
Iran
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m

21. 3.2: Resources - natural capital
3.2.6: Discuss the concept of sustainable
development.
What is sustainable development is not
Oil production on the shores of the Caspian sea
cebitz.
n
co
Scie
m