Conservation and Big Business
Environmental agencies could benefit if they work with commercial enterprise to achieve their goals.
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Conservation, an ideal that has so often championed the cause of environmental protection as opposed to plans that could offer greater short-term financial gain; has now realised the potential benefits of working with big business instead of opposing the plans of these companies. Environmental groups would like to get some of the funds that are available from wealthier companies, and have also realised that conservation must work with development to be successful rather than oppose such progression. The hope is that such change will improve the public perception of environmentalism and economic attitudes to it1. Environmentalism does make economic sense, investment in programs such as mangrove reforestation (which can protect valuable fish stocks and protect agricultural land) or flood plain maintenance (which can add nutrients to improve land quality) will reap considerable financial benefits in the future.
There are many cases where working with big business could be advantageous to the goals of conservation, as has recently been highlighted by a growing demand to protect the Arctic Circle and the surrounding area. The area could exploited further as economic demands increase, but these demands could be mitigated significantly by the involvement of enterprise that could profit from the further exploitation of the Arctic Circle, or from its protection2. The Arctic Circle is in decline as ice cap of the region melts away, most people are aware of this fact. The warming of the region has also made it more accessible: the area is now a viable trade route as ships can pass from Atlantic Ocean to Pacific Ocean and vice versa. Many artic regions are mineral rich, and there is also increased mining to acquire these important natural resources. Businesses should be interested in the idea of conservation here because it could protect access to these important minerals and ensure that they remain a valued commodity.
Business, quite rightly, will look to profits and the potential for growth and development as measures of success. Environmentalism and conservation organisations will try to conserve our environment and natural resources. In order for conservation to be successful it must not hinder success. Conservation must work with big business in order to ensure that the goals of conservation are met within a practical timescale.
References
1. Gilbert, N. (2011). The practical conservationist, Nature: doi:10.1038
2. Brigham, L. (2011). Marine protection in the Arctic cannot wait, Nature: 478, 157.
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