Our Aims

Currently almost all human activity tends to be not sustainable and has externalities that are not properly accounted for in the economic system resulting in costs that are borne by the natural environment. This depletes natural capital and leads to the degradation of bio-systems. For economic development to lead to an increase in well being that can be sustained into the future - human activity must not diminish natural capital.

Natural capital is being depleted by humans in almost all areas of the world at an unsustainable rate. Humans are commandeering an excessive share of the Earth's physical processes for human consumption and are engaged in multiple assaults on biodiversity and species abundance: habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, population increase, and over-harvesting.

The destruction of natural capital is a sign of unenlightened human thinking as it cannot be fully substituted by man made capital and many cases its destruction is irreversible. Maintaining natural capital is desirable because it provides amenity value in the form of the air we breathe and the water we drink; we value its beauty and its existence has intrinsic value for us and our descendants. Rich biodiversity has the potential to provide new medicines. Undamaged or unpolluted natural capital is necessary for humans as a provider of non-renewable resources, an absorber of low level pollution and a climate stabiliser.

The Tedder Foundation's aims are to counter the effects of excessive human appropriation of nature's services by supporting charities, volunteer groups and other organisations that are engaged in the protection of the natural environment and all its bio-diversity, and the encouragement of human self restraint.