Translating ambitious nature and biodiversity strategies into actionable programs is complex, and it often requires expertise beyond internal capabilities. A recent survey by Trinity Consultants and independent research firm Verdantix found that 55% of organizations see a lack of internal knowledge and expertise related to nature and biodiversity issues as a barrier. This issue is particularly significant for medium-sized organizations, with annual revenues between $500 million and $1 billion, where 80% reported it as a top challenge.
This is where an advisory partner skilled in biodiversity and environmental consulting can be an invaluable asset.
The Growing Imperative for Biodiversity Initiatives
Businesses are embracing biodiversity efforts as an essential component of a sustainable future. For example, restoring ecosystems like wetlands and riparian areas significantly enhances water quality, which benefits industrial operations as well as the surrounding community. These initiatives go beyond environmental conservation and restoration, providing crucial ecosystem services that reinforce your company’s social license to operate.
Our recent survey shows that sustainability initiatives benefit from strong, measurable, and time-bound targets that are visibly supported by executive leadership. Yet despite rising interest, organizations often struggle to obtain the internal alignment and funding necessary to launch biodiversity projects. Securing stakeholder buy-in can be a daunting task—even more so in industries such as mining, utilities, and real estate, where nature-positive projects require specialized knowledge and rigorous regulatory compliance.
Because of this, organizations in these sectors lean heavily on third-party consulting services to conduct projects. Specifically, 84% of organizations use external providers for most or all environmental impact assessment projects, which require thorough understanding of key regulatory frameworks and laws, comprehensive environmental impact assessments, effective local community engagement, and the process of obtaining operational permits.
How Outside Partners Can Break Down Barriers to Implementing Nature and Biodiversity Initiatives
Organizations are increasingly turning to external providers to turn their nature and biodiversity strategy into action. Experienced consultants with expertise in this area can help you:
- Address gaps in specialized knowledge: One of the primary challenges to biodiversity project implementation is the internal expertise gap. Over half (55%) of organizations surveyed cite this as a barrier, with the percentage rising to 80% among medium-sized firms earning between $500 million and $1 billion in annual revenue. In sectors like mining and renewable energy, nature and biodiversity processes often lie outside the core competencies of traditional operations, underscoring the need for specialized guidance.
Partnering with a consulting firm can help businesses build capacity where it’s lacking. This includes biodiversity data collection, ecological analysis, and complex environmental management processes. A consulting firm with in- depth industry knowledge can help streamline these processes, reduce project timelines, and ensure regulatory compliance; in the mining sector alone, 69% of companies rely on third-party services to manage the permitting and compliance tasks that are integral to nature-positive projects.
- Build a business case for biodiversity initiatives: Even with the right expertise, proponents of biodiversity projects still face significant hurdles when it comes to securing internal investment. These initiatives must demonstrate value not only in terms of sustainability but as contributions to corporate strategy and operational resilience. A partner with an extensive technical background can help your organization develop a business case that aligns biodiversity goals with economic incentives and risk management strategies. They can also help set benchmarks, provide insight into best practices, and perform cost-benefit analyses tailored to an organization’s unique needs. Consulting firms can also help educate internal stakeholders and bring much-needed expertise to firms looking to make a high impact with their investments.
- Navigate the regulatory and environmental landscape: Implementing nature-positive strategies also means navigating a complex web of regulatory requirements, community expectations, and environmental science. Consulting partners bring a holistic approach, guiding companies from baseline assessments to regulatory compliance and ensuring that all measures are aligned with current scientific standards. Their expertise in the latest scientific techniques and evolving regulatory frameworks can help ensure that projects are not only effective today but also resilient to future regulatory shifts.
- Craft an enterprise-wide biodiversity program: Beyond individual projects, a third-party partner can help your organization build a cohesive, enterprise-wide biodiversity program that embeds nature-positive practices into the company’s strategy. This includes leveraging advanced tools for biodiversity auditing, data management, analysis, reporting, and communication.
You can no longer afford for nature and biodiversity to be an afterthought in corporate sustainability conversations. Read more about our services and learn more about how organizations are addressing nature-related challenges within their operations in our research report, “
Building the Business Case for Nature Positivity.”
