Yet another report has made clear what any ecologically literate person could tell you: spending to protect the environment provides big economic returns, numerous environmental benefits, and helps to alleviate poverty. Too often saving forests or reducing carbon emissions are decried as being too economically costly. This is simply untrue. Environmental conservation is a necessity for life - and makes both a healthy environment and economy possible. While simply plundering natural ecosystems to harvest their capital is no longer an option, there are plenty of opportunities for clever and hardworking people to sustainably harvest resources and renew natural capital.