Online course

Valuing Nature: Should We Put a Price on Ecosystems?

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

Valuing Nature: Should We Put a Price on Ecosystems?

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Overview
Topics
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Educators
Overview
Topics
Start dates
Requirements
Educators
  • Duration 2 weeks
  • Weekly study 3 hours
  • Learn Free
  • Extra benefits From $59 Find out more

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

When would you like to start?

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?

Tim Lenton

Tim Lenton

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.

Damien Mansell

Damien Mansell

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

Liam Taylor

Liam Taylor

PhD student researching the impacts of climate change on our world

MOOC producer for University of Exeter Geography department

@LTaylor1995

http://awildgeographer.wordpress.com/

Who developed the course?

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

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