Wild Capital

Nature’s Economic and Ecological Wealth

Barbara K. Jones

• Publisher: University of Florida Press
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN: 9781683401339
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Ecology
• Index: Biological Sciences

In Wild Capital, Barbara Jones demonstrates that looking at nature through the lens of the marketplace is a surprisingly effective approach to protecting the environment. Showing that policy-makers and developers rarely associate wild places with monetary values, Jones argues that nature can and should be viewed as a capital asset like any other in order for environmental preservation to be a competitive alternative to development. Jones describes how the ecosystem services model, a tool that connects human well-being with the services nature provides, can play a critical role in assigning species and their habitats measurable values. She uses five highly recognizable animal species—moose, manatees, sharks, wolves, and bald eagles—as examples to show how highly valued charismatic fauna can serve as symbolic representations of entire ecosystems at risk. Through an emphasis on branding, incentives, and ecotourism, Jones advocates for channeling the social and economic power of these and other faces of nature to inspire greater environmental awareness and stewardship. Contending that many people don't realize how fiscally pragmatic environmental initiatives can be, Jones is optimistic that by recognizing the costs of habitat destruction and diminished biodiversity, we will make better choices regarding conservation and development. In doing so, we can more readily move toward co-existence with nature and a sustainable future.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• CONTENTS
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• 1. Creating Wild Capital from the Ecosystem Services Model
• 2. The Ecotourist Question
• 3. The Question of Charisma
• 4. The Quirky Moose
• 5. Florida’s Endearing Manatees
• 6. Post- Jaws Sharks
• 7. Green Fire in a Wolf’s Eyes
• 8. America’s Iconic Bald Eagle
• Conclusion: Economics as the Answer to a Sustainable Future
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index