Biodiversa+ commissioned Naturalis, in collaboration with KPMG, to investigate how companies and financial institutions can make better use of publicly available biodiversity data. Although a large amount of public biodiversity data is available, it remains significantly underutilised. Consequently, the integration of biodiversity into business operations is lagging behind. The report, 'Guide to Using Public Biodiversity Data in the Private Sector', describes the current data landscape, identifies key barriers to using this data and discusses possible solutions to improve its utilisation.
The use of biodiversity data
Biodiversity is a fundamental pillar of the economy and of society. However, many companies still find it difficult to incorporate biodiversity systematically into their decision-making processes. At the same time, the pressure from governments, investors and customers is increasing, partly due to new regulations and sustainability reporting frameworks. Although a great deal of public biodiversity data is available, it is not widely used. This is due to various factors, including fragmented data sources, inconsistent data quality, and a lack of in-house expertise.
This study provides insights into how companies can make better use of public biodiversity data. The report analyses the current data landscape, identifies key barriers to using biodiversity data, and offers practical recommendations. It examines the entire process, from data collection by scientific institutions and citizen science initiatives, for example, to the creation of aggregated datasets and analysis tools used by companies.
One of the key conclusions is that companies do not need to wait for perfect data to take action. Existing datasets can already provide valuable insights into biodiversity risks and opportunities. Organisations that start using biodiversity data early on develop internal expertise more quickly, are better prepared for new regulations and can gain a strategic advantage. Consequently, biodiversity is becoming an increasingly integral part of business strategy and risk management.
The impact onbiodiversity
This report provides businesses and financial institutions with practical guidance on utilising publicly available biodiversity data. It illustrates the structure of the biodiversity data landscape, explaining how various data sources and tools can be used to understand the interdependencies, impacts and resulting risks and opportunities on biodiversity. Additionally, the report demonstrates how these insights can be employed to integrate biodiversity more effectively into business decision-making processes.
This enables companies to determine which data are relevant to their activities and how this data can be used to identify and analyse biodiversity risks and opportunities. This enables organisations to consider biodiversity when making decisions regarding sites, investments, and business activities, for example. By doing so, the report helps companies to improve their risk management, meet increasing sustainability and reporting requirements, and develop more sustainable business strategies.
Wie werktaan dit project?
The project was commissioned by Biodiversa+, a European partnership that promotes research and innovation in the field of biodiversity. The project was carried out in collaboration with KPMG, an international consultancy firm with over thirty years’ experience in the field of sustainability. The sustainability department supports organisations in areas such as developing sustainability strategies, producing sustainability reports and translating complex data into concrete insights and actions.
Team members involved:
Donna Teske (author), Elisabeth Bakker (KPMG, author), Niels Raes & Koos Biesmeijer.
Moreinfomation
Report citation: Bakker, E., & Teske, D. (2025). Guide to using public biodiversity data in the private sector. Biodiversa+. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17777120
This document bridges the gap between scientific data and business practice. You can access the full report and the official citation via the Zenodo repository. Are you short on time but still want to take away the key insights? A concise executive summary is also available via KPMG, which clearly sets out the key points.
