The business of biodiversity – What is needed for biodiversity markets to work

Abstract

Summary There has been considerable discussion in Australia about market‐based initiatives with the potential to bring effective incentives and greater investment for farmers and other land managers to promote biodiversity conservation. These initiatives include biodiversity trading markets (also termed the nature repair market), stewardship schemes, certification programmes, sustainability frameworks, and natural capital accounting. We welcome these discussions and believe these initiatives would be true advances if they bring much greater investment in conservation and stronger protection and recovery of biodiversity. However, we also have major concerns about the integrity and scientific credibility of some of these initiatives. In this article, we discuss why it is critical that such initiatives both carefully define biodiversity and determine what elements of biodiversity are to be targeted in conservation efforts. We also discuss the fundamental importance of appropriate and agreed biodiversity metrics, as well as the critical need for rigorous, well designed and independent biodiversity monitoring. To ensure that initiatives like biodiversity trading markets, stewardship schemes, certification programmes, sustainability frameworks and natural capital accounting are rigorous, non‐corruptible and actually deliver what they are intended to do, they will need to be underpinned by appropriate programme designs. This includes robust and transparent governance structures, high‐quality monitoring and timely reporting of key metrics.

Climate and Biodiversity Credentials for Australian Grass-Fed Beef: A Review of Standards, Certification and Assurance Schemes

“…Credentialing should be integrated with the clear labeling of products so that consumers are correctly informed and respected as active actors in sustainability [197]. Credential platforms and providers also rely on specialist scientists to develop international consensus views on sustainability accounting [198,199]. Scientifically substantiated credentials enable consumers to identify beef products that align with their sustainability values, promoting the transparency throughout the supply chain and so incentivizing the adoption of sustainable practices by beef producers.…”