Significant Ideas
The renewability of natural capital has implications for its sustainable use.
The status and economic value of natural capital is dynamic.
Knowledge & Understanding
Renewable natural capital can be generated and/or replaced as fast as it is being used. It includes living species and ecosystems that use solar energy and photosynthesis, as well as non-living items, such as groundwater and the ozone layer.
Non-renewable natural capital is either irreplaceable or can only be replaced over geological timescales; for example, fossil fuels, soil and minerals.
Renewable natural capital can be utilized sustainably or unsustainably. If renewable natural capital is used beyond its natural income this use becomes unsustainable.
The impacts of extraction, transport and processing of a renewable natural capital may cause damage, making this natural capital unsustainable.
Natural capital provides goods (such as tangible products) and services (such as climate regulation) that have value. This value may be aesthetic, cultural, economic, environmental, ethical, intrinsic, social, spiritual or technological.
The concept of a natural capital is dynamic. Whether or not something has the status of natural capital, and the marketable value of that capital varies regionally and over time and is influenced by cultural, social, economic, environmental, technological and political factors. Examples include cork, uranium and lithium.
Applications & Skills
Outline an example of how renewable and non-renewable natural capital has been mismanaged.
Explain the dynamic nature of the concept of natural capital.
Guidance
The valuation of natural capital can be divided into the following two main categories.
Use of valuation: resources that have a price—marketable goods, ecological functions, recreational function
Non-use of valuation: resources that have intrinsic value (the right to exist), future uses (medicines, potential gene pool), existence value (Amazon rainforest), present for future generations
Consider at least two examples of how the status of natural capital can vary.
“Natural capital” is often used interchangeably with the term “resource”, and the rate of its replacement is referred to as “natural income”.
Key Vocabulary
HERE
Textbook Reading and/or Activities
Pages 96-107
Exercises (p.106)
Notes
i-Biology Notes (Not available)
A detailed set of notes, created by Stephen Taylor, examining U1 - U8 and A1 - A4.
i-Biology Study Questions (Not available)
A series of questions, created by Stephen Taylor, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice.
Bioknowledgy Notes (Not available)
A detailed set of notes, created by Chris Paine, examining all of the IB learning expectations.
Bioknowledgy Study Questions (Not available)
A series of questions, created by Chris Paine, to help check your understanding of the IB learning expectations. This is VERY GOOD practice.
Learning Activities
Linked Activity
This activity, prepared by XXXXX, will help you better understand ... (specific U/A/S).
Supplemental Reading
This video examines concepts K&U 1-6 and A&S 1-2.
Should Watch Videos
Must Watch Videos
"Niche" by Bozeman Science (5:12)
This video examines the differences between a fundamental and realized niche and how organisms cannot occupy the same niche due to competitive exclusion.