Valorando o capital natural e os serviços ecológicos de unidades de conservação: o caso do Parque Estadual do Rio Doce-MG, Sudeste do Brasil

The natural capital is an important part of the national wealth. However, we haven't yet had its appropriate evaluation in many cases (including the ecosystems of natural protected areas). As a consequence what we normally measure as the national wealth or total capital is a small part of what it takes to sustain human welfare. This article aims to develop the methodology for the evaluation of the natural capital in protected areas based on the identification of major ecological services. Moreover, this study constitutes the first tentative of attributing economic value to the major ecological services of the Rio Doce State Park and evaluating the composition of its natural capital. The results pointed out the contribution of environmental resources for the national wealth and people well being as well as help defining investment priorities and conservation policies on State Park ecosystems.