There seems to be a paradox. On the one hand, conservation groups and scientific organizations are chronically short of resources to effectively generate the biodiversity data and information we need to support conservation success. On the other hand, many of the largest corporations in the world, with revenues in some cases dwarfing many countries, are in urgent need of these assets.

The value proposition
Comprehensive data, information and knowledge on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are essential to reverse environmental degradation and species loss trends. Accessing biodiversity data and sharing conservation knowledge are, unfortunately, not simple tasks. Much of the data, information and knowledge is fragmented, difficult to find, or simply not accessible. This challenge is considerably magnified in many developing countries, where the consequences of the ‘digital divide’ present enormous challenges. Increasingly, businesses have begun to recognize the value proposition of integrating information on biodiversity into their decision making processes. Many have made pledges for mainstreaming the conservation of biodiversity into new developments, and further commitments to the principle of ‘no net loss’. A basic pre-requisite for meeting these commitments is effective, on-demand access to the best available biodiversity data, information and knowledge. Forestry, mining, oil and gas, and agri-business operators are reaching out to the conservation and scientific communities to help fill this gap. This is not philanthropy, nor should it be. Rather, the need for biodiversity data represents a very real business proposition and operating requirement for many companies. Companies, unfortunately, face the same challenges in accessing the biodiversity data they need – poor accessibility, fragmented sources, and in many cases a lack of clear standards to facilitate integration. Many investment decisions are thus taken with an incomplete picture of potential impacts to biodiversity.

Unlocking biodiversity data
In some cases, companies are taking steps to build internal expertise for gathering, integrating and interpreting biodiversity data in their operating structures. Despite the fact this is often tangential to their core business. Around the world, conservation and scientific organizations are working against time to close critical gaps in our knowledge in order to preserve species, habitat, and life support systems of the planet. Within the current funding paradigm, however, these organizations simply do not have the resources to develop the data and information assets we urgently need, and are even less well positioned to deliver these assets in ways relevant to business. A consensus of the need to work together to solve fundamental problems limiting our understanding of biodiversity is beginning to emerge. By bringing together scientists, conservationists and business people, the Conservation Commons hopes to address these challenges head-on. Launched in 2004, and convened by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the initiative helps unlock biodiversity data and information. It promotes conscious, effective, and equitable sharing of knowledge resources to advance conservation.

Initial business partners include energy companies BP plc, Chevron Corporation, and Shell Exploration & Production; mining company Rio Tinto plc; Linux and open source provider Red Hat, Inc.; and GIS and mapping software supplier ESRI. Starting this fall, the Conservation Commons is opening a dialogue with companies and industry associations which have lead the way in incorporating biodiversity into their business models and decision making systems.

A venture for joint solutions
The dialogue will explore joint solutions to improving access to data and information and will address: principal biodiversity data/information needs, and challenges of the companies in accessing these assets; the role of business in supporting open access to biodiversity data and information; and contributions from business of biodiversity data collected in their operations. A ‘joint venture’ between business and the conservation community to dramatically improve access to biodiversity data and information – a partnership rooted in common needs – represents an important way forward to address these challenges and the spirit of Decision VIII/17.

Tom Hammond is Senior Programme Advisor at the World Conservation Union Canada Office (IUCN Canada), and Acting Coordinator of the Conservation Commons.