What Is A Nature-Based Enterprise?
“What is special about nature-based enterprises is that they are based on the principles of sustainability and inclusion and they exist to incentivise the protection of biodiversity.”
What is a Nature-Based Enterprise?
So we’re on the same page, let’s quickly review what a nature-based enterprise actually is.
They can be pretty diverse, so the term is kind of hard to tame. But since this is our bread and butter, we’ve given it a go!
Definition
In short, they’re enterprises (usually micro or small-scale, but not always) that make most of their revenue through commercial trade (earned income) and the value they provide is derived from the sustainable use, protection of, or access to, a natural resource or asset.
They generally operate in or around areas of high conservation and/or cultural value, such as protected areas.
Who Operates Them?
Potentially anyone. But some groups are particularly well positioned to build and operate nature-based enterprises.
Indigenous people
Indigenous people have cultural connections to land and sea and have stewardship obligations to care for country. Often, nature-based enterprises provide an avenue for Indigenous people to practice and share traditional ecological knowledge while also creating jobs and income.
Local communities
Passionate and with a strong commitment to place, local communities have a vested interest in building strong regional economies. The very survival of some communities depends on the integrity of ecosystem services that enable people to live and subsist in some places (especially agricultural regions). Enterprises that are based on the sustainable use of natural capital and that put people in jobs are a logical fit.
Conservation Organisations and Protected Area Managers
It’s no secret that protected areas in most parts of the world are significantly underfunded. For environmental NGOs and other agencies appointed to manage protected areas, nature-based enterprises can generate unrestricted revenue, which can then be used to fund important conservation work on the ground. In many cases, nature-based enterprises are also a positive way to engage local communities in conservation and foster sustainable livelihoods, which incentivizes the protection of biodiversity.
Examples
Nature-based enterprises are not new. In fact, you’ve probably already bought goods and/or services from a nature-based enterprise before and you’d certainly know of some, although perhaps not necessarily by that name.
Here are a few categories you might recognise.
Nature-based tourism and recreation
Sustainable wild harvest / propagation
Sustainable cultivation / grazing (including agroforestry and related systems)
Cultural heritage products and experiences
Payments for ecosystem services and carbon farming
Invasive species surveillance and anti-poaching squads
Bioprospecting and conservation research services
Nature-based solutions to conservation problems
As you can see, the term is broad. Even within these categories, there are plenty of sub-categories. You get the picture!
Summary
To sum it up, nature-based enterprises can be distinguished by four things:
Place – they operate in and around protected and conserved areas
Purpose – they enable the sustainable use, protection of, or access to, natural resources and assets
People – they are typically operated by Indigenous people, local communities or organisations managing protected areas
Profit – most of their revenue comes from the commercial trade in goods and/or services with the aim of generating a profit for reinvestment back into the community or to support conservation work
Join The Conversation!
If you have a resource, story, opportunity, or insight that’s relevant to nature-based enterprises and that you’d like to share, I’d love to hear from you! Please reach out at emma@ethical-republic.com or comment below.
