This paper is a reply to Esteve Corbera's critique of my earlier commentary on the economic valuation of nature. It seeks to clarify my motivations and objectives in writing the original piece. It highlights important distinctions between our positions and explains why acceptance of financialized approaches to conservation (in any of its guises) works to deepen the embedded nature of neoliberal ideology. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.