Corporate Ecosystem Services Review: In The News
July 15, 2009: New York Times article features ESR lead author Craig Hanson
See the recent NYT article on climate change legislation and markets for ecosystem services. Originally published by Greenwire.
Environmental Business Journal ESR Q&A
In the February 2009 issue of the Environmental Business Journal, WRI’s Craig Hanson and John Finisdore discuss growing corporate awareness about ecosystem services, the future of the ESR methodology, and how to improve traditional corporate environmental management and assessments. Download full article. (PDF, 4 pages, 119 Kb)
WRI’s new ESR videos on youtube
WRI’s recent videos provide examples and tips about how your company can benefit from conducting an ESR.
New Approach for Integrating Biodiversity and Business Performance
Journal article (PDF, 5 pages, 189 Kb) by Craig Hanson and Charles Iceland in CSR Compass sustainability magazine: May 12, 2008. (published by E-Square)
Environmental Finance Highlights ESR’s Value
In the April 2008 edition of Environmental Finance, Abby Schultz highlights The Corporate Ecosystem Services Review as a methodology to “better understand, and profit from, the link between healthy ecosystems and the bottom line.” The article describes Mondi, the international paper and packaging company, using the ESR to develop new strategies for improved water efficiency on its South African forest plantations.
But, there’s more—the ESR also helped Mondi combine its interest in increasing water flows and getting value from plantation waste. Mondi may soon use invasive species cleared from its plantations for power generation and they are looking at their value in biofuel markets. Furthermore, the review uncovered strategies outside the plantation itself—helping nearby farmers convert their land from water-intensive sugarcane to native tree species. This strategy secures more water for Mondi’s plantations, increases timber supplies to Mondi’s mill, and increases landowner returns, thereby strengthening stakeholder relationships.
The ESR empowers companies to develop innovative strategies that improve performance while enhancing ecosystem health. To read more about the experience of the ESR’s 5 road test companies, download the ESR.
More stories featuring the ESR
- Clear Skies TV interviews Craig Hanson, lead author of the ESR.
- Marc Gunther reflects on the role of the ESR and of ecosystem valuation in indentifying corporate risks and opportunities
- Blog post discusses the need to measure the true value of things beyond their market value. The ESR is mentioned, along with several other tools that help companies manage the benefits they receive from nature.
- Wokade Mobiler discusses WRI's April 2009 ESR Consultants Training Program in Stockholm, Sweden.
- World Inc. "For Better or For Worse?" Blog discusses the importance of ecosystem services to the business world andcites the ESR
- Colombia’s influential business journal highlights the Ecosystem Services Review.
- Ecosystem degradation will impact "business in new and different ways, ways which we can hardly imagine today."
- Climate change and carbon emissions may have dominated the green business agenda over the past five years, but according to environmental think tank the World Resources Institute (WRI) firms are avoiding the risks associated with ecosystem degradation at
- This article discusses the prevalence of environmental management systems and ,
- "Ecosystem degradation is the next phase in addressing climate change, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)."
- "As more ecosystems change, more government regulation, fines or fees could come into play, and it would be in a company's best interest to work with governments on preserving ecosystems."
- "With ecosystem degradation becoming a global reality one thing is certain: business can no longer continue as usual."
- "WRI sought to address this failure of firms to prioritise ecosystem management and wildlife protection"
- " 'We’re going to be hearing a lot about the Corporate Ecosystem Services Review. A couple dozen more WBCSD members are already taking it up this year,' said Björn Stigson, President of the WBCSD."
