Story
Europe’s First Marine Social & Natural Capital Laboratory launched at PML
4 July 2023
The Lab will be a testbed for novel and transformative marine science using integrated ecological, psychological, social and economic research approaches, coupled with cutting edge digital technologies.
![Plymouth Sound](/getattachment/d8bfedaa-62d6-4000-add7-42e070f025a6/dsc_0038-2-.jpg)
![](/getattachment/News/Europe’s-First-Marine-Social-Natural-Capital-Labor/MSNCL.jpg?lang=en-GB&width=150&height=60)
Natural capital is defined as the stock of natural resources and ecosystems that provide various goods and services essential for human wellbeing and the functioning of the planet. It encompasses a wide range of elements, including forests, wetlands, rivers, oceans, minerals, soil, air, and biodiversity, and represents the inherent value of nature's assets and the ecological systems that sustain life on Earth. The ability of natural assets to provide these benefits is determined by their quality, quantity and location and can be affected by how humans use and manage them.
The term human capital refers to the collective skills, knowledge, abilities, and attributes possessed by individuals in a population. It emphasises the idea that the accumulation and enhancement of human capabilities can drive economic growth, innovation, and competitiveness. In a broader sense, social capital is a set of shared values or resources that allows human capital assets to come together in a group to effectively achieve a common purpose.
![](/getattachment/News/Europe’s-First-Marine-Social-Natural-Capital-Labor/MSNCL-Chart.png?lang=en-GB&width=200&height=133)
Plymouth Sound is an ideal site for a variety of reasons. Plymouth houses three internationally renowned marine institutes: Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the Marine Biological Association and the Marine Institute of the University of Plymouth, linked together in the Marine Research Plymouth group. Therefore, Plymouth attracts high-calibre marine scientists.
Much research has also been carried out around Plymouth Sound leading to a large selection of long-term environmental datasets, extensive marine ecosystem modelling, regular satellite observations and significant investment in digital and autonomous technologies. Despite this wealth of expertise and long-term environmental data, long-term data on social capital and cultural ecosystem services provided by Plymouth Sound to its residents is lacking.
The initial research questions that will be address are:
- How do citizens engage with and benefit from Plymouth Sound – their health and well-being
- What ecosystem services does Plymouth Sound provide – and to whom?
- What are the quantifiable benefits of returning parts of the marine environment back to its original state?
Dr Stefanie Broszeit, Marine Ecosystem Services Researcher and lead of the Marine Social & Natural Capital Laboratory, commented:
“We are really excited to launch the Marine Social & Natural Capital Lab; the first in Europe. PML has a long track record of marine socio-economic analysis, with some of the earliest marine ecosystem services and natural capital research having been undertaken by PML scientists over 20 years ago.”
“We have such a valuable marine environment on our doorstep and this new initiative will not only help us reveal the extent of natural and social capital locally but will also help uncover capital treasures around the globe.”
Prof. Nicola Beaumont, Head of Science for the Sea & Society Group at PML, added:
“The UK government has shown a commitment to incorporating natural capital into its policies and practices since the creation of the Natural Capital Committee in 2012. In 2018, the government published its 25-Year Environment Plan, which highlighted the importance of protecting and enhancing the country's natural capital and emphasised the need to restore habitats, reduce pollution and sustainably manage natural resources. We are confident that this new initiative will be a significant contributor to achieving these ambitions.”
Related information
Marine Social & Natural Capital Laboratory project page