The Natural Capital Evidence Handbook

The Natural Capital Evidence Handbook report sets out a best practice approach to support the inclusion of natural capital evidence in strategic decision-making. It then identifies Natural England’s evidence-based tools that can supplement this process. The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan highlights natural capital as a mechanism to deliver multiple benefits for people through environmental improvement. 

The workbook demonstrates how to develop shared strategic understanding about the natural environment using a natural capital evidence base. It is about working collaboratively and in partnership to enhance nature and human well-being. The Natural Capital Evidence Handbook provides a diagram for the natural capital approach as an iterative and adaptive process. Key stages include defining your partnership and vision, establishing a shared evidence base, forecast and understand drivers of change, decide and plan for multiple benefits, act, as well as check and improve. The appendix contains Evidence Information Notes intended to facilitate access to evidence and resources to streamline a natural capital approach. 

Working with natural capital is relevant for those planning strategically for local areas, contributing to nature recovery network or planning nature-based solutions that will help alleviate flooding or address the climate emergency. EKN’s ‘Natural Capital for People and Place’ webinar introduces the Handbook, exploring its support for place-based planning and decision making.

Natural England created and published this resource in 2021.