Spain | Natural resources, key to sustainability and well-being

Summary

The discussion about the role of natural resources in economic activity is not new, although environmental pressures and the loss of biodiversity have increased its interest.

Key points

• Key points:
• At the European level, according to World Bank estimates, Finland and Sweden have the highest endowments of natural capital, almost three times the EU-27 average (EUR 7,000) and very far from Belgium, Cyprus and Malta (EUR 5,000).
• Spain is above average, with natural assets valued at EUR 9,000 per capita. This value has practically stabilized since 2010, after the loss suffered in the first decade of the century due to the population increase caused by the "migration boom".
• By region, Andalucía, Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha concentrate the highest endowments of natural resources, more than EUR 20,000 per capita, doubling the national average and far greater than the Comunidad Valenciana, el País Vasco, Cataluña and Madrid, larger regions where they barely reach EUR 5,000 per capita.
• By asset type, crops and pastures account for 60% of the total natural capital stock in Spain, followed by forest resources (25%) and protected areas (16%). This last asset has gained weight in recent decades due to the European and national commitment to environmental protection and biodiversity.

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