Promoting natural capital conservation: a bet for socioeconomic development of marginal areas

The aim of this paper is to enhance the well-being of marginalized areas by improving their local economy, considering the correlation between socioeconomic marginalization and environmental sustainability. These two objectives are at the core of the international and European policy agenda, but they are not often merged in one action. Within this study, we selected a marginal area in central Italy and assessed its environmental sustainability, using the method of the ecological balance. The results show that this territory has the capacity to provide an amount of natural capital greater than the ecological footprint generated by local production activities, thus the value of the ecological balance is positive. Then, we discussed how local policies can favor processes focused on agricultural products coming from areas recognized as sustainable. Environmental sustainability can be work as a branding strategy, which can raise the market value of the products and the farmers’ income, thus supporting the economic development of marginal areas and promoting the protection of their natural capital.