Climate change and the loss of biodiversity are threats to our world that need to be addressed urgently. An important way to address these is the use of so-called nature-based solutions (NBS). NBS are cost-effective solutions inspired and supported by nature which provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience. NBS not only provide immense opportunities to address climate change and loss of biodiversity, but they also provide great business opportunities. These opportunities exist for enterprises who create and implement NBS, some of which are called nature-based enterprises. These enterprises are defined by their contribution to the development and delivery of NBS and that for them nature is at the core of their business. They can be a relevant vehicle to deliver the NBS that are needed to speed up the transition towards a nature positive economy and seize the business opportunities that this market sector has to offer.
Due to the urgency of the threats that NBS can help address, there has been policies put in place which can support NBS and therefore present interesting business opportunities for enterprises in the field. This policy push has been happening on a national, EU and also international level. Examples are the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the New Nature Economy Report II – The Future of Nature and Business by the World Economic Forum and the UN State of Finance for Nature. These policies are making more funding available for NBS and therefore for enterprises which can create and implement them.
If you are an enterprise interested in NBS, where do you now find information to get started in this field? And if you are already active in the field, where do you get more in-depth knowledge?
All this information is handily condensed in the “Nature-Based Solutions Business Information Package”, which has been developed as part of the work in the EU-funded project NetworkNature. This package includes more information on NBS and nature-based enterprises, including success stories of such enterprises as an inspiration. Further details regarding NBS as a business opportunity are set out. In addition, you can find in-depth information about business models which were specifically developed for NBS, including graphics of business model canvasses. The package ends with a chapter which gives practical guidance on how to start you NBS journey, including exploring policy and legislation, networking and funding opportunities. The entire document is set out so you can skip directly to the part that interests you. It is not necessary to read it from beginning to end. The information is kept brief and to the point, and is supplemented with many hyperlinks. These lead directly to the source materials mentioned, so at any point where you want further information, you can find additional materials very easily. In addition to being interesting for enterprises, the materials are also suitable to be used in the education of future business professionals.
If you want to learn more about NBS and NBE, don’t hesitate to visit our website. You can find lots of interesting materials, tools and resources there.
By Victoria Blessing, Senior Project Manager at Steinbeis Europa Zentrum
