The idea that nature delivers benefits to humans is an easy sell. Turning that idea into changes in government action or business practices is not so simple. It is clear what conservationists and environmentalists think they are achieving by pushing for the valuation of ecosystem services. But what businesses and governments hope to gain from ecosystem valuation is not going to be easy to achieve, and is rarely measured by conservationists.
Results/Conclusions
Drawing on lessons from previous environmental regulations and green labeling, the application of ecosystem service science needs to become much more standardized than is currently the case. In addition we need to track outcomes such as equity and fairness, paperwork reduction, consistency and stability, conflict resolution, economic growth and jobs, and streamlining decisions. It is not just about nature—but about how our government and business institutions function in a world of ecosystem valuation.