> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.basin.global/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.basin.global/realvalue/why-put-a-value-on-nature.md).

# Why put a Value on Nature?

The [Appendix](/appendix/glossary.md) references thousands of sources as to why and how to value nature.  

These two quotes ground us in the ***why***:

> "***Only when the last tree has been cut down, the last fish been caught, and the last stream poisoned, will we realize we cannot eat money.***"
>
> \- Osage saying, circa 1893

> "***…by bringing economics and ecology together, we can help save the natural world at what may be the last minute – and in doing so, save ourselves.***"
>
> \- Sir David Attenborough  \
> The Dasgupta Review: the Economics of Biodiversity 2021

The RealValue of Natural Capital expresses the value nature in a language everyone understands: dollars.

***

{% hint style="success" %}
"*BASIN is not financializing nature, we are naturalizing finance.*" - Jeff Stephens
{% endhint %}


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