13 July 2010: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) research consortium has released its third report, titled “The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity – Report for Business,” at the first Global Business of Biodiversity Symposium in London, England.

The TEEB Report for Business highlights the business case for biodiversity and ecosystems services (BES) by illustrating the importance and immense value of natural services provided to, and affected by, a wide range of industries. The report identifies the direct drivers of biodiversity loss, including habitat loss and degradation, climate change, pollution, over-exploitation and the spread of invasive species. It adds that projections of the impacts of climate change, in particular, show continuing changes in the distribution and abundance of species and habitats, resulting in increasing species extinction. It further provides that biodiversity loss cannot be seen in isolation from other trends, such as climate change, increasing scarcity of natural resources and/or declining quality of ecosystem services.

TEEB Report for Business illustrates business models that benefit BES, as well as frameworks to enable their widespread realization. In this regard, the report underlines that biodiversity and ecosystem service markets are emerging, alongside markets for carbon. It also identifies reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD+) initiatives as a likely first major market opportunity.

The report contains chapters on, inter alia: business impacts and dependence on BES; measuring and reporting impacts and dependence on BES; scaling down BES risks to business; and increasing biodiversity business opportunities. TEEB is based at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). [Report Website] [Symposium Website]