This article, featuring one of my heroes Prof. Sir Partha Dasgupta, is about how to include the value of natural assets that are often overlooked. For example, "conserved or restored habitats were strongly associated with greater overall 'net present value' in 75% of the 24 main sites when compared with their human-dominated alternative state." In other words, in most situations it makes more economic sense to forgo planting or harvesting of any crop in favor of allowing the land to provide ecosystem services.
