BES Facebook pageNatural Capital Initiative
The Natural Capital Initiative (NCI) is a partnership between the British Ecological Society, Society of Biology and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. 
NCI aims to support the development of UK science, policy and practice aligned with the ecosystem approach; a way of looking at whole ecosystems in decision-making and valuing the goods and services they provide.
NCI is:
- Providing an independent and inclusive forum for debate;
- Identifiying gaps in science, policy and its implementation and facilitating the debate about how to address these gaps;
- Liaising with, and informing, key Government, Research Council and other initiatives, and
- Engaging the public and inspiring the next generation.
NCI Workshop for Economists and Ecologists 8th May 2012
The Natural Capital Initiative is holding a 'Workshop for Economists and Ecologists' aimed at encouraging interdisciplinary cooperation and knowledge exchange between actors in the fields of economics and ecology, with the goal of informing public policy formation
The workshop will take place on Tuesday 8th May 2012 at Charles Darwin House, London. See the event flyer [Adobe PDF, 868 Kb] for full details and instructions on how to register.
NCI Activities in 2011
For details of all NCI activities that took place in 2011, see the NCI website.
NCI Activities in 2010
'Towards no net loss, and beyond': A workshop series exploring biodiversity offsetting in the UK
June, September, December 2010
The NCI organised three workshops in 2010, exploring the large-scale implementation of biodiversity offsetting in the UK:
- 22 June: Practical challenges for the further implementation of biodiversity offserring
- 29 September: Addressing scientific and environmental information challenges for biodiversity offsetting in the UK
- 7 December: Designing a system to offset for the residual impacts of terrestrial development on ecosystem service provision
Access workshop reports and the speakers' presentations through the NCI website.
Ecosystem services and the delivery of health benefits: Towards optimised health and environment planning
28th September 2010, British Library
A one-day workshop exploring the links between ecosystem services and human health.
Full information available via NCI website.
Activities in 2009
Sustainable Cities - 15 June 2009
The Natural Capital Initiative and Science Council, supported by the British Library, held an evening event in London to explore the concept of ‘greening’ a city.
A full report of the event is available from the NCI website.
Video interviews with the presenters: Dr William Bird, Natural England; Professor Lorna Walker; Ken Livingstone, Progressive London; Malcolm Smith, ARUP; and Peter Wilder, Landscape Institute, can be seen on You Tube:
| What is the biggest challenge facing sustainable urban development in the next ten years? | How can science inform policy with respect to sustainable urban development? |
|---|---|
| Dr William Bird, Natural England | Dr William Bird, Natural England |
| Professor Lorna Walker, CABE | Professor Lorna Walker, CABE |
| Ken Livingstone, Progressive London | Ken Livingstone, Progressive London |
| Malcolm Smith, ARUP | Malcolm Smith, ARUP |
| Peter Wilder, Landscape Institute | Peter Wilder, Landscape Institute |
NCI Inagural Sympoisum: Valuing our Life Support Systems
29 April - 1 May 2009, Savoy Place, London
A high profile symposium to launch the Natural Capital Initiative. Over several days in London, different stakeholder groups came together to discuss how an ecosystem approach could be better incorporated into policy-making.
Download a copy of the Symposium Report and the Executive Summary from the NCI website.
