Biodiversity study to be conducted by Bombay Natural History Society

MUMBAI: Biodiversity stewardship is a fundamental business issue. Biodiversity is the life support system for our planet. There are more than six billion people living on the planet and their livelihoods depend on our planet's biodiversity, in the form of ecosystems, species and genetic material. There may be differences of opinion about the rate of loss, but there is no doubt that ecosystems, species and genes are being lost or damaged faster than ever before. Such a loss undermines the natural richness of our planet and threatens our future sustainability. With a view to address these issues, Bombay Natural History Society(BNHS) will conduct a green governance programme.

Businesses can play a positive role in biodiversity conservation. Business is all about survival. In order to survive, businesses need to generate profits. But today, many businesses have recognised that long-term sustainable development requires good environmental performance and good social performance as well. Biodiversity can be associated with good environmental, economic, and social performance. These elements are consistent with the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity: conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits.

When businesses first began addressing environmental issues, it was usually in terms of risks or costs. Today, addressing environmental issues can be often considered as a form of competitive advantage, as a way to reduce waste, avoid pollution and, more generally, provide better products and services.