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2008 - Corporate Ecosystem Services Review

by Julian Rode ⋅ Thursday 21 January 2010 ⋅ Reply to this article

The Corporate Ecosystem Services Review (ESR), developed by the World Resources Institute, Meridian and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, is a structured methodology for corporate managers to proactively develop strategies for managing business risks and opportunities arising from their company’s dependence and impact on ecosystems. Within a 5-step procedure, the ESR analyzes how business performance can be enhanced via a thorough evaluation of such dependences and impacts.

Title

Corporate Ecosystem Services Review

Guidelines for Identifying Business Risks and Opportunities Arising from Ecosystem Change

Authors

Craig Hanson (WRI), Janet Ranganathan (WRI), Charles Iceland (WRI), John Finisdore (WRI)

Institutions

World Resources Institute (WRI), Meridian, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Date

March 2008

Abstract

Although ecosystem degradation can pose a number of risks to corporate performance as well as create new business opportunities, companies often fail to make the connection between the health of ecosystems and the business bottom line. The Corporate Ecosystem Services Review (ESR) is a structured methodology that helps managers proactively develop strategies to manage business risks and opportunities arising from their company’s dependence and impact on ecosystems.