• University of Exeter

Valuing Nature: Should We Put a Price on Ecosystems?

Discover the many ways that we benefit from the natural world through ecosystem services.

8,880 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours

Explore how we value the natural world

There are many services that ecosystems provide that we never even consider, until we destroy them. Natural ecosystems help alleviate flooding, improve food security and protect our coastlines. Yet we consistently replace these ecosystems with manmade alternatives. If we put a price on nature, will it help us to protect these important ecosystems? And is it morally right to put a price on nature? Get answers with this course that uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore the ins and outs of how we value nature.

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What topics will you cover?

Putting a monetary value on nature

  • What are ecosystem services and who benefits from them?
  • Environmental Economics
  • How much is the Earth worth?
  • Debates, dilemmas and politics

Ecosystem services in action

  • Local Scale - Valuing ecosystems in your area
  • Regional Scale - South-West of England
  • National Scale - Coral Reefs
  • International Scale - REDD+ and saving the rainforests

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the concept of 'valuing nature’
  • Compare different types of services that ecosystems provide
  • Assess the moral and political dilemmas associated with valuing ecosystems
  • Apply your understanding of ecosystem services to peatlands, coral reefs and rainforests
  • Identify key ecosystem services in your place
  • Investigate the best ways to manage and preserve ecosystems and their services

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone interested in nature and the environment, you don’t need any past experience.

Who will you learn with?

Professor Tim Lenton is Chair in Climate Change/Earth System Science at the University of Exeter. His research focuses on understanding the behaviour of the Earth as a whole system.

Senior Lecturer at The University of Exeter specialising in Glaciology, GIS and Remote Sensing
Educator on Climate Change: Challenges and Solutions
Find me on twitter @DamienMansell

Lecturer at Leeds University researching the impacts of climate change on our world

Course producer for University of Exeter Global Systems Institute

@LiamTaylorIce

Who developed the course?

University of Exeter

The University of Exeter is a Russell Group university. It combines world-class research with very high levels of student satisfaction.

Endorsers and supporters

supported by

Valuing Nature

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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