Toward a relational biodiversity economics: Embedding plural values for sustainability transformation
The prioritization of market over nonmarket values of nature is a key driver of the global biodiversity crisis. Recognizing nature's diverse values in decisions is a fundamental lever for sustainability transformation. While economic valuation of nature has a long history, it has struggled to recognize the full suite of nature's values, particularly the broad, relational, intrinsic, and shared values reflecting the complexity of human-nature relationships. We explore opportunities to expand the consideration of values within the economics of biodiversity by reviewing conventional and heterodox economic approaches. We argue that integrating pluralistic values requires a relational biodiversity economics that transcends people-nature dualism and seeks the flourishing of life. We synthesize foundations for such a paradigm in relation to worldviews, values, value indicators, and life frames. Our perspective transcends the dominant economic framing of nature as a passive, largely substitutable asset, to also consider nature as place, self, and harboring agency. This helps to overcome the limitations of conventional economic assumptions, better reflects peoples' lived experiences, and supports transformations toward more just and sustainable futures.
Authors
- M Teresa Gomez-Osorio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5769-1971)
- Mike Christie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8346-9140)
- Eberechukwu Johnpaul Ihemezie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4714-295X)
- Unai Pascual (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5696-236X)
- Christopher M. Raymond (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7165-885X)
- Kyriaki Remoundou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1627-7253)
- Hywel Griffiths (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0480-2014)
- Rachel Carmenta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8607-4147)
- Adrian Martin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2916-7712)
- Ruth Waters
- Jasper O. Kenter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3612-086X)
Institutions
- Ikerbasque (ES)
- University of East Anglia (GB)
- Natural England (GB)
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Aberystwyth University (GB)
- University of the Basque Country (ES)
- Helsinki Institute of Physics (FI)
- Finnish Environment Institute (FI)
- Agriculture and Forestry University (NP)
- Basque Centre for Climate Change (ES)
- Sustainability Institute (ZA)
- Cesic (Germany) (DE)
- Tyndall Centre (GB)
- Department of Forestry (MW)
- University of York (GB)
- University of Worcester (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2025-09-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2314586122
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Sustainable Development and Environmental Policy
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 14.53
Funders
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- Strategic Research Council