On 19 November, forty policymakers from across the Netherlands gathered in Wageningen to learn how the value of nature can be incorporated into municipal, provincial, and national decision-making, in order to create more effective and inclusive policies.
The workshop “Getting Started with Valuing Nature” was organised by the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN). The day focused on the concept of ecosystem services, the different methods for valuing them, and concrete applications in policy and practice.
After a brief introduction by Mieke Siebers (FSD), Arnold van Vliet (WUR/FSD) emphasised in his opening lecture why it is so essential to invest more in nature and the living environment. Marije Schaafsma (IVM-VU) then explained the different types of values nature has—ranging from economic to cultural and wellbeing—and which methods we can use to make these visible. She referred to practical tools such as the Natural Capital Atlas and underlined the importance of a common language for valuing nature.
Marcelle Lock (RIVM) demonstrated how nature contributes to both physical and mental health. “There are many links we cannot yet quantify precisely,” she said, “but one thing we know for sure: green is good.”
After an inspiring reflection by Jan Smelik (Rebel) on why on earth we keep building grey, boxed-in living and working environments while there are so many opportunities and benefits in greener surroundings, participants got to work themselves. In groups, they explored nature-inclusive interventions and their ecological and social effects: what do ecosystem services such as clean water, water retention, and climate regulation really provide us? A greater sense of safety, a cooler home in summer, and the pleasant normality of clean drinking water?
This was followed by a serious game led by Merlissa Diele (Natuurverdubbelaars), in which participants—taking on the roles of policymaker, financier, or manager—explored how investments in nature can be financed. Merlissa presented several business models in which nature actually appears on the balance sheet.
Strong real-world examples from Eindhoven and Rotterdam demonstrated how this works in practice:
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Dennis Kaspori (Municipality of Eindhoven) showed how a social cost-benefit analysis (SCBA) of the De Wielewaal estate demonstrated that public investment more than pays for itself through social benefits.
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Wiebe Oosterhoff (Municipality of Rotterdam) explained how Rotterdam has now included nature as a municipal asset in its accounting, with joint budgets and reserves for replacement, maintenance, and expansion. “It took years of talking and coffee-drinking, but this is an important first step that embeds the value and care of nature structurally.”
Throughout the day there were lively conversations, new connections, and a shared sense of urgency as well as optimism: the value of nature can be made visible and applied in policy—if we do it together.
The workshop was under the umbrella of ESP Netherlands National Network. Find out more about the network and contact the leads if you would like to connect.