I suppose that there is no getting away from its 'material worth' (profits etc) - though nature needs to be appreciated, respected and taken care of much more than how we have been doing.
A photographer friend recently shared some photos on FB taken from the aftermath of local grass fires (caused by arson). Lots of charred remains of trees which were hauntingly beautiful to look at, but heartbreaking to see all the same. Amidst the devastation of death- there were new shoots starting to appear.