Mongabay Publishes Commentary on Pricing Nature and Criminal Economies

Mongabay published a commentary on September 25, 2026, which cited research from the Brookings Institution. The article argued that while the world has spent a decade trying to put a price on nature, criminal economies have been pricing their own activities for much longer. These activities include illegal logging, illicit gold mining, and wildlife trafficking.

The commentary discusses the emergence of financial systems around ecosystem value, such as carbon markets and conservation finance. These financial systems are built on the assumption that intact ecosystems can generate economic value. The article warns that a more destructive economy has been pricing nature for a long time.