The Core Benefits Framework extends Nature's Core Benefits by incorporating ecosystem and land cover classifications, alongside the tangible dimension of real assets, to render natural capital investable.
The benefits nature provides are commonly referred to as environmental assets which are comprised of stocks and flows. Ecosystem services are the "flows" and ecosystem assets are the "stocks" of those benefits.
The valuation of these stocks and flows is paramount for ecosystem protection and restoration. Serving as the basis for proper valuation, we conducted an exhaustive review of over 120 Ecosystem Services, Natural Capital, Land Cover, and Real Assets classification and valuation frameworks.
{% hint style="warning" %} Real assets in a nature framework? It's strategic. In a world of rules, we turn legal 'limitations' into tools for sustainable impact. Laws aren't barriers; they're opportunities. {% endhint %}
The Core Benefits Framework identifies 14 "stocks" of ecosystems and 21 "flows" of ecological benefits.
| Ecosystem STOCKS | Core Benefits FLOWS |
|---|---|
| Cultivated & Developed | Raw Materials |
| Urban Open Space | Food |
| Rural Open Space | Energy |
| Rivers & Lakes | Water Abundance |
| Inland Wetlands | Healthy Soils |
| Tropical Forests | Medicinal & Genetic |
| Temperate Forests | Climate Stability |
| Boreal Forests | Clean Air |
| Coastal Systems | Clean Water |
| Grasslands | Risk Resilience |
| Shrublands | Pollination |
| Tropical Forests | Erosion Control |
| Desert | Pest & Disease Control |
| Subterranean | Habitat |
| Recreation & Experiences | |
| Research & Learning | |
| Aesthetic & Sensory | |
| Art & Inspiration | |
| Existence & Legacy | |
| Land Utilization | |
| Resource Utilization |
{% hint style="info" %} Detailed methodology available in the Appendix {% endhint %}