text: **Investing in nature protection and restoration will also be critical for Europe’s**
  **economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis**. When restarting the economy, it is 
  crucial to avoid falling back and locking ourselves into damaging old habits. The 
  European Green Deal – the EU’s growth strategy – will be the compass for our recovery, 
  ensuring that the economy serves people and society and gives back to nature more than 
  it takes away. The**business case for biodiversity**is compelling. Industry and companies 
  rely on genes, species, and ecosystem services as critical inputs for production, notably 
  for medicines. Over half of global GDP depends on nature and the services it provides, 
  with three key economic sectors – construction, agriculture, and food and drink – all 
  highly dependent on it2. 
  
  Biodiversity conservation has potential direct economic benefits for many sectors of the 
  economy. For example, conserving marine stocks could increase annual profits of the 
  seafood industry by more than €49 billion, while protecting coastal wetlands could save 
  the insurance industry around €50 billion annually through reducing flood damage 
  losses3. The overall benefit/cost ratio of an effective global programme for the 
  conservation of remaining wild nature worldwide is estimated to be at least 100 to 14. 
  **Natural capital investment**, including restoration of carbon-rich habitats and climate- 
  friendly agriculture, is recognised to be among the five most important fiscal recovery 
  policies, which offer high economic multipliers and positive climate impact5. It will be 
  important for the EU to tap into this potential to ensure prosperity, sustainability and 
  resilience in the recovery. 