Businesses depend on the environment and biodiversity in order to grow. The goods and services that underpin the business sector relies heavily on biodiversity and ecosystem services.  Biodiversity loss, ultimately, entails adverse effects on businesses. While environmental degradation from unsustainable business practice persist, recent trends have shown that there is a growing number of businesses engaging in and integrating biodiversity conservation in business operations.

Initial recommendations in the region suggested that businesses should go beyond the profit. Building partnerships is identified among the key actions in order to mainstream biodiversity in their business plans. On a larger scale, it was also suggested that businesses should consider alternative models for sustainable development and biodiversity conservation in the region.

With the CBD’s agenda on mainstreaming biodiversity, the business sector is among the necessary avenues for transformational change by injecting sustainability in their business models and supply chains. The CBD COP 14 recognised the need for an enabling environment for mainstreaming biodiversity and an increased collaborative ambition to halt and revert biodiversity loss through the contributions of the business sector. With the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework anticipated to take off in 2021, much mobilization is anticipated from the private sector in halting biodiversity loss.