Economic development

Economic development brings many advantages, but can also have detrimental impacts.

The RSPB campaigns against policies that provide economic incentives for people to damage the environment and supports policies that provide people with sustainable jobs and economic opportunities. The RSPB encourages Government to spend money in a way that provides multiple benefits for nature conservation and wider society.

The Global Value of Wild Nature

At the start of 2002, the RSPB brought together a team of ecologists and economists to Cambridge University to assess the real, economic value of global nature. More...

Green grows the economy

The RSPB promotes the importance of the environment to sustainable economic development. More...

Uplands, view east from summit of Cairngorm across strath Nethy to Bynack Moor

Healthy, wealthy and wise

Over the next generation, in all likelihood, at least a million new homes and associated development will be built in England. The RSPB has produced a publication which outlines why protecting and enhancing the environment in these developments is a healthy, wealthy and wise choice. More...

Measuring real progress: headline indicators for a sustainable world

The RSPB, working with Oxfam and the New Economics Foundation have proposed a simple set of headline indicators to measure global development towards sustainability. More...

Bald ibis flying at sunset in the Souss-Massa National Park, Morocco

The RSPB and trade

The loss of habitats all over the world is being driven by a wide range of factors, many of which are inextricably linked with national and international economic policies. More...

Traidcraft fair trade organic chocolate bars

WATECO Guidance - Case Studies

The Wise Use of Floodplains project has studied the restoration and management of floodplains across 5 EU catchments. The Project's appraisal work provides useful lessons for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive to achieve 'good status' for aquatic environments and sustainable water throughout Europe. More...

Lower Lough Erne. View over Cleenishgarve Island towards Lough Navar Forest

Wellbeing through wildlife

Fantastic places for wildlife can also be fantastic places for people. Funding nature conservation is a sound investment. Download the RSPB's new report. More...