Business and ecosystems: Markets for ecosystem services - new challenges and opportunities for business and the environment. A perspective

The paper is intended for both the business and conservation communities, in an effort to establish a shared vision of market-based approaches to nature conservation. It builds on current scientific research underlining the economic value of ecosystems, as well as recent inter-governmental decisions to enlist the  private sector in conservation efforts.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) assessed the global status and trends of 24 critical ecosystem services, including “provisioning” services, such as the supply of freshwater, biomass fuel, food and fibers, as well as “cultural”, “regulating” and “supporting” services that underpin human well being. The MA concludes that some two-thirds of the world’s ecosystem services are degraded or being used unsustainably, while also noting that demand for ecosystem services is rising, fuelled by population growth and economic development.