There are currently a number of tools and methodologies on the market that help companies better understand and manage their impact and dependence on natural resources, which seek valuation analyses and generate maps for risk management. One of these is the ESR (Corporate Ecosystem Services Review), developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Meridian Institute.
The WBCSD recently released a study on the tools available to measure companies’ dependence on and impact on natural resources. The report, Eco4Biz, encourages companies to explore tools that can help them incorporate the environment into their strategies and decision-making. The study was developed, with the participation of CEBDS, to help managers choose the most appropriate tool for each company. The Portuguese version of this study will be released during Sustentável 2013.
1) CEV – Corporate EcosystemValuation
Type: Quantification/Valuation
Has it been tested by companies: Yes
Cost: Free
Main question that the tool answers: How can I carry out a valuation of ecosystem services in a business context, through a step-by-step process?
Results: Results depend on the purpose of the valuation exercise and may include qualitative, quantitative and monetary aspects.
Potential users: Companies from all sectors
Developers: WBCSD, ERM, IUCN, PwC, WRI
2) ESR – Corporate Ecosystem Services Review
Type: Verification/Checklist
Has it been tested by companies: Yes
Cost: Free
Main question the tool answers: What ecosystem services do I impact and depend on and how can related risks and opportunities be incorporated into my business strategy?
Outcomes: The detailed output of an ESR depends on the purpose of the exercise and includes a list of priority ecosystem services, identification of potential business risks and opportunities, and prioritization of a set of strategies.
Potential users: Companies from all sectors
Developers: World ResourcesInstitute (WRI), WBCSD, Meridian Institute
3) ARIES – Artificial Intelligence for Ecosystem Services
Type: Map and Quantification/Valuation
Has it been tested by companies: Yes (but no published summaries)
Cost: Free
Main question the tool answers: What is the supply, demand and value of ecosystem services in the landscape?
Results: Considers ecosystem services from the beneficiaries' perspective. Generates a set of maps describing the supply and demand of each ecosystem service.
Potential users: decision makers, NGOs, companies and consultants
Developers: UNEP-WCMC, United States National Science Foundation, Basque Center for Climate Change, (BC3), University of Vermont, Conservation International, Earth Economics, Instituto de Ecología (Inecol).
4) IBAT – IntegratedBiodiversityAssessment Tool
Type: Map
Has it been tested by companies: Yes
Cost: US$ 500 per year up to US$ 25,000 per year
Main question the tool answers: How can I filter biodiversity risks and opportunities in a specific location and better plan and manage my project to take into account these related risks and opportunities?
Result: Data is presented in maps and tables. Includes reports with options to manage your own sites.
Potential users: decision makers in companies, especially those involved in risk management.
Developers: BirdLife International, Conservation International, IUCN, UNEP-WCMC
5) InVEST – Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Tradeoffs
Type: Map and Quantification/Valuation
Has it been tested by companies: Yes (but there are no published summaries)
Cost: Free
Main question the tool answers: What is the value of the supply and use of ecosystem services in a specific location?
Output: Provides maps of the supply and use of ecosystem services and tables reporting the results.
Potential users: government agencies, NGOs and companies
Developers: The Natural Capital Project (NatCap) – Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Institute on the Environmental the University of Minnesota
6) MIMES – Multi-scale Integrated Models of Ecosystem Services
Type: Map and Quantification/Valuation
Has it been tested by companies: No
Cost: Free
Main question the tool answers: What is the value of ecosystem services in land management and land use scenarios?
Result: Provides quantitative and monetary results, based on data integrated into the tool.
Potential users: Rural landowners/managers, researchers
Developers: Gund Institute, Accounting For Desirable Futures LLC
Source: Eco4biz (WBCSD)
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