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Nature Is Fundamental to Ensuring that Economies and Communities in the United States Thrive

Large body of research shows the many cost-effective benefits nature provides 

March 04, 2026 | ARLINGTON, Va.

Underwater view of a scuba diver in freshwater spring.
A freshwater spring in Florida A study showed that Florida mangrove forests provided significant flood damage reduction benefits annually. And coral reefs help avoid $825 million in flood damages annually. © Tom Shlesinger/TNC Photo Contest 2022

Media Contacts

  • Jill Schwartz
    Director of Marketing and Communications, North America Policy
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: jill.schwartz@tnc.org

Investing in nature is one of the smartest investments governments can make, given the economic, health and public safety benefits nature provides, according to a new report commissioned by The Nature Conservancy.

Nature’s Dividends includes data, pulled from nearly 1,500 credible articles and studies, which confirms that nine in 10 Americans believe that funding to protect our land, air and water is a smart investment, even when budgets are tight, because it delivers lasting benefits.

“The numbers reaffirm that nature is fundamental to the well-being of our country and has been since it was founded 250 years ago,” said Kameran Onley, TNC’s managing director of North America Policy and Government Relations. “Forests, oceans, rivers and other natural areas are the backbone of our country, not just something pretty to look at.”

Explore the Nature’s Dividends Report

 

The report shows that conservation is a cost-effective way to grow the economy, protect public safety and reduce healthcare costs.

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Person planting native plant in prairie.
Prairie Plant Restoration When the federal government invests $1 in conservation, it saves up to $7 in future disaster costs, including flood and wildfire mitigation. © Tyler Hollloway

The report also shows that the return on investment in conservation programs, such as those that help keep our drinking water clean, is significant—4:1 nationally and as high as 11:1 in some states.

“Governments that use this data to make decisions about how to spend public dollars can rest assured that their investments are informed and, therefore, will pay off,” Onley said. “They are investments that will result in numerous meaningful dividends for people and the communities where they live.”

Protecting, restoring and enhancing nature provides cost-effective and uniquely valuable benefits, the report shows. For example:

  • Job creation and consumer spending: Outdoor recreation accounts for 3% of national employment and 2.3% of the national gross domestic product. MacNeil Lyons, a tour guide in Yellowstone National Park, is one person whose livelihood depends on access to public lands.

  • Supporting agriculture: Voluntary conservation easements, which come with government tax incentives, have helped keep nearly 8 million acres of farm and ranch land in production. Claudia Hauser was able to put an easement on her Arizona farm, thanks to government funding.

  • Reducing risks associated with extreme weather events: Every time the federal government invests $1 in conservation, it saves up to $7 in future disaster costs. See how government funding is being used to reduce flood risk in Brenda Whitfield’s Pennsylvania neighborhood.

  • Keeping our water clean: Treating drinking water from an unprotected watershed can cost 10 times as much as from protected watersheds. That’s why Maine is investing government funding in protecting forests near the state’s water sources.

  • National security: For 10 years, starting in 2003, the Department of Defense leveraged $1.5 billion with nearly $1.4 billion from partner contributions to protect more than 1.3 million acres of land. They did so to protect the country’s military bases, infrastructure and capabilities. The coastal area around Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida is one place where they did so.

Quantifying some of the benefits of nature—such as opportunities to connect with friends and have fun—can be challenging. But, as this report shows, there is a large body of compelling data that quantifies the more tangible benefits of nature. TNC encourages policy leaders at all levels of government in the U.S. to invest in the economic, health and public safety of our communities by investing in nature.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.

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