Natural Capital Navigation
The Scottish Forum on Natural Capital has developed this signposting page to help you to access briefings, tools, resources & guidance to drive understanding of natural capital’s importance for your organisation’s board members and practitioners.
Natural capital – Board level introduction
Definition – Natural Capital – Scottish Forum on Natural Capital
Describes what natural capital is and why it should be a matter of concern.
Accounting for natural capital: the elephant in the boardroom
Summarises why finance professionals and those in leadership positions should act now to integrate natural capital considerations into decision making, resource allocation and reporting, and adapt to growing competition for ever more scarce natural resources.
Summary – Guidance on the Strategic Report (Page 3 & 4) – Financial Reporting Council (FRC)
Summarises the non-mandatory guidance on the application of the statutory requirement for a “Strategic Report” for medium and large UK companies. The strategic report is required to explain how the directors have promoted the success of the company, with a focus on its business model, strategy and objectives. This provides a more holistic basis for companies to assess the broader impacts of the business including impacts and dependencies on natural capital.
Summary – International Integrated Reporting Framework (Page 4 & 5) – IIRC
Summarises the purpose of integrated reporting – to provide a more cohesive and efficient approach to corporate reporting which explains more holistically how an organisation creates value over time. Natural capital is one of the six capitals on which reporting is encouraged.
Infographic – Can’t see the TREES for the WOOD – World Forum on Natural Capital
Communicates in simple terms the concept of natural capital by illustrating the value of wood vs the value of trees.
Infographic – What’s in a Dram? – Scottish Forum on Natural Capital
Communicates the reliance of the economy on natural capital through the example of the “recipe” for whisky.
Video – Pitch for Nature – World Business Council for Sustainable Development
A 2:30min video to explain how business can account for the value of nature and why this is important. Subtitles are available in 20 languages.
Natural capital – Sector focus
Clothing
Guide – Natural Capital Protocol Apparel Sector Guide – Natural Capital Coalition
Guide for the clothing sector developed to supplement the Natural Capital Protocol. The Guide is relevant to businesses operating across the clothing value chain including the consumer use and end-of-use stages, as well as input companies throughout the value chain.
Finance
Summary – The Natural Capital Declaration and Roadmap – Natural Capital Finance Alliance
Summarises and explains how to sign the Natural Capital Declaration, a finance sector initiative, endorsed at CEO-level, to integrate natural capital considerations into loans, equity, fixed income and insurance products, as well as in accounting, disclosure and reporting frameworks.
Food & Drink
Briefing – Food & drink and natural capital – Scottish Forum on Natural Capital
One page brief of the relevance of natural capital for Scottish Food & Drink
Guide – Natural Capital Protocol Food and Beverage Sector Guide – Natural Capital Coalition
Guide for the Food & Drink sector developed to supplement the Natural Capital Protocol. The Guide is relevant to all businesses operating in the production, processing, or retailing of food and beverage products but excludes the hospitality/foodservice sector
Land management
Principles for natural capital accounting on public land – 2021
Two page summary outlining key principles
Briefing – Land management & natural capital – Scottish Forum on Natural Capital
One page brief of the relevance of natural capital for Scotland’s land management sector
Briefing – Peatlands and water quality – Scottish Forum on Natural Capital
One page brief of the role of peatlands in water quality
Find advice
Ask an Expert – Scottish Forum on Natural Capital
A service to increase understanding of the benefits gained from nature, highlight why it is damaged currently and help identify ways for organisations to protect and rebuild Scotland’s natural capital.
A crowd-sourced enquiry service designed to help you find the information you need about nature-based solutions. Answers are provided by members of the Oppla community.