Natural capital refers to aspects of the natural environment like forests and wetlands that provide value to humans through ecosystem services such as flood mitigation and water purification. This document discusses using natural capital and ecosystem services frameworks in policy and conservation efforts to provide multiple benefits like reduced flooding, improved water quality, and ecological habitat protection through integrated catchment management and natural flood mitigation techniques including forestry, woody debris, floodplain storage, green roofs, infiltration basins, and detention ponds.

1. DR GARETH OLD
PROF MIKE ACREMAN
A natural capital perspective

2. Natural Capital
The parts of the natural environment (their configuration and
interaction) that produce value to people.
Other types of capital: manufactured; human; financial;
social

3. Ecosystem service framework

4. Adopted in policy and guidance

5. Flood mitigation (upstream catchment)
Forestry
River Restoration/
Woody Debris Floodplain storage
Source:
Environment Agency

6. Flood mitigation (urban)
Green RoofInfiltration basin
Detention Pond Swale

7. Multiple benefits
Working with nature
Reduced total
runnoff
Improved
water
quality
Noise
reduction
Ecological
habitat
Heat island
mitigation
Air quality
improvement
Energy
Reduction
Reduced
peak flow
Aesthetic
appeal
Recreational
use
Sustainable
Resource
provision

8. Integrated catchment management