What is the conservation economy?
The conservation economy refers to the use of market-based approaches to enable the protection of wild spaces and the restoration of natural capital. It also includes opportunities for people to create sustainable livelihoods that can co-exist alongside protected areas, such as conservation enterprises.
Conservation enterprises
Protected areas provide opportunities for conservation enterprises. This includes eco-tourism, sustainable outdoor recreation, trekking tours, bird watching trips, trail and wetlands construction, heritage restoration, wildlife photography, cultural retreats and more. Conservation outcomes are more likely to be successful where sustainable livelihoods can co-exist with nature.
Ecosystems services
The ecosystems services provided by nature are many and varied, ranging from fertile soils, to carbon sequestration, to fresh water, clean air, flood protection, cultural values and pollination. Payments for ecosystems services are arrangements where beneficiaries of such services provide incentives to encourage the maintenance of ecosystems and natural capital.
Sustainable commercial use
Conservation finance
Sustainable commercial use of natural capital resources may include sustainable forestry, regenerative agriculture and agroforestry, sustainable fisheries, small-scale bioprospecting, traditional bush food harvesting and more.
Conservation finance is the practice of raising, applying and managing capital to support land, water and resource conservation. It also includes market-based mechanisms that create incentives to achieve nature conservation outcomes.
“Conservation enterprises in protected areas can help achieve many of the SDGs.”
