Natural Capital Project Fundamentals

Gretchen C. Daily, born October 19, 1964, has revolutionized environmental science through her groundbreaking work as the Bing Professor of Environmental Science at Stanford University and Faculty Director of the Natural Capital Project. Her innovative research bridges ecology, conservation, and economic development, focusing on understanding human dependence on nature and developing practical solutions for sustainable development. As co-founder of the Natural Capital Project in 2005, she has pioneered approaches to integrate nature's values into policy and business decisions, with tools now used in 185 nations. Her prolific academic career includes approximately 400 scientific publications and thirteen influential books, from "Nature's Services" (1997) to "Rural Livelihood and Environmental Sustainability in China" (2020). Daily's exceptional contributions have earned her numerous prestigious honors, including the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, Blue Planet Prize, and election to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and American Philosophical Society. Through her roles as Director of Stanford's Center for Conservation Biology and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment, she continues to advance pragmatic approaches to harmonize conservation with human development, engaging with stakeholders from governments to local communities worldwide.