METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO EVALUATION OF NATURAL CAPITAL OF THE REGIONS
The goal of the research is to reveal methodological approaches of economic valuation of natural capital of the regions. The solved tasks: assessment methodology of natural capital of the regions were considered; conceptual approaches of assessment of natural resources and natural and resource potential of the regions were defined; principle diagram of composition of indices of economic evaluation of natural capital of countries and regions was elaborated; a new system of management of natural and resource potential of the country and its regions on the basis of the theory of natural capital and the conception of alternative costs of natural resources, taking into account the level of development of economic relations and social and economic importance of the resource, was offered. The problems of natural capital application, economic relations of realization of possession of natural resources were considered in the article. Necessity to improve the methods of economic and ecological assessment of natural resources to assure sustainable regional economics was grounded. An analysis of modern ecological and economic condition of the Republic of Belarus and other countries was carried out with the use of rating criteria and indices. Conclusion. Economic valuation of environment was offered. The valuation includes three components (economic, social, ecological) and determines the level of resources use and points to exhaustion. It also determines improvement of balance between rational and irrational effect, which helps to make decisions to improve the level of social and economic development; decision-making on the basis of cost analysis and value appraisal benefits (reduces risk of arbitrary decision), but if most impacts on environment will be included into economic calculation; assessment methods to compare figures of economic development of the countries and regions; quantitative estimation of administrative arrangements, which can help to protect environment and ground reproduction line of natural resources on the regional level.