Natural Capital Accounting Principles & NAASB

Global markets increasingly recognize nature as a vital asset class. Yet, despite a growing investor appetite, one critical element is missing: a consistent, independent standard for reporting on natural capital performance. Without such a standard, investors cannot reliably assess nature-related risks and opportunities, companies cannot demonstrate value creation from land stewardship, and nature-based markets cannot function efficiently.

Natural Capital Accounting Principles (NCAP) aim to address this by establishing rigorous standards, comparable to U.S. GAAP or IFRS, for measuring, reporting, and assuring natural capital value. By integrating ecological and economic data, NCAP enables structured accounting of natural assets, ecosystem services, and the conditions that sustain them.

Stewardship of NCAP rests with the Responsible Business Center at Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business (the Center), which established the Natural Asset Accounting Standards Board (NAASB) to develop, maintain, and oversee the standard. Modeled after established accounting bodies, NAASB ensures independence, credibility, and stakeholder responsiveness through two committees: NAASB Reporting Committee and NAASB Governance Committee.

With expert representation across accounting, law, investment, and technology, NAASB follows a rigorous, transparent process. Its long-term goal is to position NCAP for adoption by global accounting standard-setters, while continuing to support active natural capital reporting today.

To learn more about the initial collaboration with the Intrinsic Exchange Group.

For more information, contact Alexis Ann Delizo at [email protected] or [email protected]