LEI studies the effects of the global decrease in biodiversity on behalf of governments, the business community, and NGOs.
Biodiversity is the variation of plant and animal species on earth. The importance of these species to society is reflected in national and international nature policy intended to protect species and their habitats. Awareness of the concrete value of biodiversity for society is also increasing. The production of food, medicines, and fresh water depends in part on biodiversity. For businesspeople, biodiversity policy results in both limitations and opportunities.
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International policySmall countries like the Netherlands directly and indirectly use more ground surface than they have available. The ‘ecological footprint’ is an expression of the ground surface which a country needs to produce its national product.
One of the ways in which LEI contributes is through studies into the effects on biodiversity of global changes in production and consumption and trade flow. On a global scale, consultation about biodiversity policy takes place under the auspices of the
CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity).
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National policyOne of LEI’s tasks is to sketch out the various economic consequences of Natura 2000. Natura 2000, the European network of protected nature areas, is important for biodiversity in the EU. The Netherlands has given shape to Natura 2000 through areas on land and sea (website in Dutch only).
In addition to Natura 2000, the National Ecological Network (NEN) is also designated to protect plants and animals in the Netherlands.
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Economy
LEI studies various economic aspects of biodiversity, including the value of various nature-related services to the Netherlands (the so-called ecosystem services). The global decrease in biodiversity means that increasing attention is being paid to the value of it. This can help to clarify the social importance of nature and biodiversity.
Additionally, in order to counteract further deterioration, it is important that the value of nature is included in decision-making. An important international initiative in this regard is ‘
TEEB: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity,’ an international UN study into the costs and benefits of biodiversity.
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Entrepreneurship/doing businessIn its publications, LEI explains various consequences of biodiversity policy for the business community. This policy can create limitations, but it can also offer opportunities. ‘Social Venturing Entrepreneurship,’ or SVE, involves social entrepreneurship which is not primarily focused on maximum shareholder value and financial returns, but rather on the realisation of social returns. An important challenge in this regard is examining how entrepreneurs can be encouraged to make social investments in nature. Some examples of this include:
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