BioTools: Developing and Investing in Biodiversity Responsible Business

Abstract

The objective for these tools is to encourage the conservation of biodiversity through private sector investment in biodiversity business. The tools seek to enable both investors and business developers to create viable business models that are biodiversity responsible, either through the use and consumption of biodiversity within the space that the project occupies or through the responsible management of biodiversity within the project space. The long-term objective of the Tools is to harness private capital to create green ventures that achieve the objectives of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. To develop the BioTools, a review of academic business and scientific literature was conducted, as well as a review of current developments in the grey literature of international policy organizations. These sources provided background on the current efforts to conserve biodiversity, the juncture between business and policy to conserve biodiversity, and tools for all facets of business operations. During the development of the tools, both business frameworks and applications to environmental problems were researched and adopted and modified to fulfill the objectives of BioTool development. The Convention on Biological Diversity has three objectives in its mandate: the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use, and equitable sharing of benefits. Within the work program the Convention has identified businesses as a key constituency to aid the goal of slowing the loss of biodiversity. Given these tools, businesses and investors can develop and invest in projects that seek to employ biodiversity resources in a sustainable and equitable fashion.