A survey conducted by The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) highlighted the importance of “natural capital” to companies based in biodiversity-rich developing economies. According to the report, nearly half of the CEOs in Latin America and Africa saw the decline of biodiversity as a threat to business growth. In contrast, only 20 percent of the surveyed executives in Western Europe shared this concern.

The principle behind “Natural Capital” is simply this: if we place efforts to protect our natural ecosystems, we can ensure the continuous flow of valuable natural goods or services into the future. For business enterprises, this can translate into the generation of huge profits.

The profitability of protecting biodiversity does not just stem from the conservation of valuable resources. A growing number of the world’s consumers are becoming more and more environmentally conscious. By shifting gears into a greener approach toward managing operations and delivering products and services, businesses can gain a larger consumer following. In fact, market opportunities for certified forest products, organic produce, and other conservation-grade products are estimated to grow by 200 percent, with chances of skyrocketing to 400 percent by 2020.

Integrating biodiversity and ecosystem services in business operations can also lead to substantial cost savings and new revenues. With the expenses for production cut without compromising quality control, companies can relegate the remaining budget toward improving business processes and creating more effective marketing strategies.

It seems there is nothing to lose in taking the initiative to protect our natural ecosystems. In addition to fulfilling their corporate social responsibility, companies can cut costs, earn more, and gain a vast marketability by applying more eco-friendly business practices. Business leaders from developing nations are getting into it because their economies rely heavily on their natural resources. The more businesses realize the benefits of sustaining “natural capital,” the higher our chances of saving the environment.