Technology is often celebrated as an engine of growth and development, conjuring images of advanced machinery, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge innovation. Nature, by contrast, is too often considered as something separate from technology, or even something to be protected from or balanced against it. But this framing misses a deeper truth. Nature is ancient intelligence. It is the original AI.
In many emerging markets and developing economies, nature itself is one of the most powerful, accessible and affordable forms of technology. Mangroves that buffer coastlines against storm surges and agroforestry systems that enhance soil fertility and crop resilience — these are not accidental landscape features. They are systems refined over millennia, delivering ecosystem services like water and timber that modern economies depend on. Nature is the enabling technology for sectors such as agroforestry and tourism, and the resources it provides are the foundation of renewable value chains and job creation.
At the World Bank Group, our ultimate goal is to help countries build economies that convert growth into local jobs — and unlock opportunity in the landscapes and coastal seascapes where the most vulnerable people live. Jobs provide income, hope, and dignity. They are also foundation of global prosperity and stability.
Over the next 10 to 15 years, 1.2 billion young people in developing countries will reach working age. Meeting that moment requires investment in the foundational physical, human, and natural infrastructure for jobs — as well as a business-friendly environment and the mobilization of private capital.
The goal is to ensure this foundation unlocks jobs in sectors that are not easily outsourced or displaced by modern technology. Nature is the enabling technology for five job-rich sectors — infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, primary healthcare, tourism and value-added manufacturing — that can help communities, countries, and companies modernize, grow, and generate jobs at scale.
Take agribusiness. It remains the backbone of livelihoods and value chains for millions of people. Investments in forests, fisheries, and aquaculture help diversify production systems and income streams, making communities more resilient to shocks and moving them from subsistence to surplus. Forest ecosystems play a direct role in sustaining agriculture: 40 percent of rainfall in low-income countries comes from soil moisture in forests. When these systems are degraded, productivity declines. When they are restored, yields, incomes, market opportunities and food security rise.
In healthcare, the links to nature are equally direct, though often overlooked. Delivering quality, affordable healthcare is not only about hospitals and medicines; many families don’t have access to modern medicines. Nature fills that gap, providing medicinal technology proven over centuries — technology that today is at the heart of many modern medicines. But nature's role in health goes beyond pharmacology. Air pollution, lead exposure, and chemical contamination impose heavy costs on public health systems and economies. Reducing these risks improves labor productivity, strengthens educational outcomes, and lowers the burden of disease. Investments that tackle these challenges are investments in the workforce and economies of tomorrow.
Infrastructure and energy systems are equally intertwined with nature. For the hundreds of millions of people who lack reliable grid access — or for whom electricity remains intermittent or unaffordable — bioenergy built from nature is not a backup option. It is their primary energy lifeline. This and other nature-based energy sources can power homes, schools, and small enterprises at a fraction of the infrastructure cost of grid extension.
Tourism offers another powerful example. The three fastest-growing segments of the sector — adventure, wellness, and nature-based tourism — are all rooted in nature. When managed well, these assets can generate significant economic returns: research shows that nature-based tourism can deliver local household income multipliers of approximately $2 to $5 for every tourist dollar spent. The opportunity extends beyond revenue. Tourism creates jobs across entire value chains — from guides and hospitality workers to transport providers and artisans.
Natural resources are also central to value-added manufacturing. Circular economy approaches — reducing waste, reusing materials, and improving resource efficiency, enhance competitiveness while lowering costs. For countries rich in renewable natural capital, moving up the value chain offers a pathway to income diversification and expanded market access. For example, research suggests that the annual demand for industrial wood could quadruple to 300 million m3 by 2030 across 12 West and Central African countries, while supply is projected to reach only 81 million m3 per year. This widening gap highlights both the urgent need to expand sustainable wood supply and the strong opportunity to grow domestic furniture manufacturing and create jobs within the region.
Across all these sectors, a common thread emerges: Nature is not a constraint on economic growth. It is an enabler. It provides the foundational infrastructure that supports productivity, unlocks new business opportunities, and drives job creation.
But realizing this potential requires deliberate action. Natural capital must be better managed and integrated into economic planning. It must be complemented by investments in physical and human infrastructure. And it requires a concerted effort to unlock and mobilize private capital for job-rich investments grounded in renewable natural resources.
There will never be a world without poverty in a world without nature. The challenge, and the opportunity, is to translate the promise of natural capital into tangible outcomes for people.
