At first glance, “biological diversity (biodiversity)” and “private sector engagement” may seem to be an odd combination. However, it has become recognized that the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity cannot be achieved without the participation of the private sector, including corporations. At the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 8) in 2006, a Decision was adopted for the first time that addressed the importance of private sector engagement.

One factor leading to the increased attention given to this issue was the release in 2005 of the results of the United Nations’ “Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.” Key findings of this report included that the well-being of human livelihoods depends greatly on ecosystem services and on the biodiversity that forms their basis; and that biodiversity has been degraded over the past 50 years to such an extent that it is almost unable to provide these services, and a concerted change in policies is needed for the recovery of biodiversity. The concept of “ecosystem services,” first introduced in this report, has sparked various efforts by many different actors that depend on these kinds of services.

Ecosystem services, and the biological resources resulting from them, can be regenerated and used sustainably only if they are utilized suitably. In order to continue to enjoy these benefits in a sustainable way, we must initiate swift action to create a “society in harmony with nature;” businesses, public entities, local public corporations, as well as the nation and every one of its citizens, must each cooperate and work from their own standpoints to prevent the loss of biological diversity.

Partnership to realize a society in harmony with nature

Businesses have the important role of supplying society with these benefits of nature in the form of goods and services. Even if they do not directly involve the handling of biological resources, most of the activities of business entities benefit indirectly from biodiversity, or provide some sort of impact on biodiversity. For businesses, (in cooperation with various other actors, including consumers) to work for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity will not only help speed up the realization by society as a whole of a “society in harmony with nature,” but doing so is also necessary for business entities to be able to sustain their own activities into the future.