Featured Projects
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People, Planet, Prosperity: Mainstreaming Nature in Policy & Investment Decisions (Global)
Co-developing natural capital approaches that inform policy and investment decisions for development and conservation goals in pilot countries around the world.
Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) (China)
NatCap is working with our partners at the Chinese Academy of Sciences to develop scientifically rigorous GEP measures for use in pilots around the country.
Mapping small dams and reservoirs with Earth Observation and computer vision, Global
We are developing an open-source computer vision algorithm to detect the location of dams from high resolution satellite imagery, enabling us to map the location of dams worldwide
PRO-Agua: Resilience and sustainable planning for water in the Amazon, Madre de Dios, Acre, Pando
Using integrated watershed management for resilient development in Latin America.
Golf and Natural Capital, Twin Cities, MN, USA
What are the ecosystem service values of golf courses to their surrounding community? How do the biophysical drivers of ecosystem services affect the golf experience?
Innovations in Climate Resilient Coastal Zones (The Bahamas)
NatCap is co-producing new science in conducting spatial development planning for greater ecosystem support of livelihoods and climate resilience.
Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Belize
The Belizean government used InVEST to engage stakeholders and devise a plan that improves coastal protection, tourism and lobster revenues, while also reducing human impacts on coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds.
Strong Coasts: Reducing Climate Risks with Equitable, Nature-based Solutions
NatCap is part of the five-year NSF CoPE (Coastlines & People) “Strong Coasts” project, led by the University of South Florida.
Food Forests: From Vacant Lands to Vibrant Lands (San Antonio, TX, USA)
Working with the Food Policy Council and the San Antonio Office of Innovation to explore the multiple benefits that could flow to people from further investment in vacant lands in the city.
Natural Capital Index/Nature's Frontiers, Global
Quantifying potential improvements in economic returns, greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, and biodiversity through more efficient and effective land use change for countries globally. Project partners: NatCap at Stanford & UMN, and the World Bank.
Financing Natural Capital in Colombia
NatCap mapped the mangroves, sea grasses, coral reefs, and forests in the Gulf of Morrosquillo and quantified their benefits to people
Modeling ecosystem services for sustainable urban integration and planning (China’s Greater Bay Area)
We worked with the World Bank, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and local planners in Guangzhou to assess the value of natural capital in two different contexts: the Haizhu wetland and the New Knowledge City.
Green Finance and Livelihoods
The Natural Capital Project is working with multilateral development banks (MDBs) and three countries to advance national-level development plans to set standards, policies, and spatial zoning guidelines.