Acceso en línea sin restricciones

Una de las ideas más innovadoras y atractivas que se están acuñando en la actualidad está relacionada con la necesidad que tiene la humanidad de preservar y manejar los recursos naturales – o capital natural - remanente e invertir en la restauración del capital natural (RCN) degradado para reincorporarlo a la cadena de bienes y servicios que la sociedad requiere. En este artículo, presentamos definiciones y conceptos básicos, para mostrar como la RCN es un enfoque más amplio en relación al propuesto en la restauración ecológica de ecosistemas naturales. Damos a conocer estudios de caso, como ejemplos del enfoque de la RCN, y su impacto sobre el suministro de bienes y servicios en Argentina, Colombia, México y Chile. Terminamos con una breve discusión y algunas recomendaciones para la investigación y el desarrollo de la RCN a nivel local, regional y global. Español

One of the most innovative and attractive ideas to emerge in recent years is the call for humanity to preserve and manage what remains of our natural resources, or natural capital, and to invest in the restoration of degraded natural capital (RNC), in order to replenish the reserves which assure the flows of natural goods and services that society requires. In this paper, we present definitions and basic concepts to show that RNC is a broader approach than that of the ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems. We present case studies from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Chile explaining in each case the RNC approach and the impact on ecosystem services. We conclude with a brief discussion and some recommendations for research and development of RNC at local, regional and global scales. One of the most innovative and attractive ideas to emerge in recent years is the call for humanity to preserve and manage what remains of our natural resources, or natural capital, and to invest in the restoration of degraded natural capital (RNC), in order to replenish the reserves which assure the flows of natural goods and services that society requires. In this paper, we present definitions and basic concepts to show that RNC is a broader approach than that of the ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems. We present case studies from Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Chile explaining in each case the RNC approach and the impact on ecosystem services. We conclude with a brief discussion and some recommendations for research and development of RNC at local, regional and global scales. Inglés