Recent research from the University of Cambridge examines how 100 of the world’s biggest companies are trying to make the environment healthier. They found that even though many companies say they are fixing damaged natural areas, we don’t really know if they are doing a good job.

“Ultimately, if big businesses are going to contribute effectively to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, there needs to be transparency and consistency in reporting,” the researchers explain.

Ecosystem repair

It’s important to fix places in nature that are in trouble to help protect plants and animals. Big companies have the money and resources to do this on a large scale, but the study shows that most of their projects don’t tell us if they are making any real difference. More than 90 percent of these projects don’t say if they have actually helped the environment. About 80 percent don’t say how much money they are spending on the projects, and one-third don’t even say how big the areas they want to fix are.

The United Nations has started a special program to restore ecosystems, and many companies worldwide have promised to do things like plant lots of trees, help coral reefs, and restore mangrove forests. About two-thirds of the world’s 100 biggest companies are involved in these projects.

“The world’s largest corporations have the potential to lift ecosystem restoration efforts to an unprecedented scale,” the researchers explain. “But their involvement has to be managed with proper evidence and accountability, to make sure the outcomes are beneficial and fair for everyone.”

Beyond just rules

In many countries, businesses have to do something called Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs). This is to figure out how much harm they might be doing to the environment and try to reduce it. There are also some private efforts that ask companies to measure and tell everyone about the impact they have on nature.

But this study discovered that the rules and laws about fixing damaged ecosystems aren’t good enough. Companies aren’t reporting what they’re doing properly.

So, the researchers want companies to be more open about what they’re doing to restore ecosystems. They also want companies to follow scientific rules to make sure their restoration projects are successful.

“Restoring degraded ecosystems is an urgent challenge for this decade, and big businesses have the potential to play a vital role,” the authors explain. “With their size, resources and logistics expertise, they could help deliver the large-scale restoration we need in many places. But at the moment there is very little transparency, which makes it hard for anyone to assess if projects are delivering benefits for ecosystems or people.”

The researchers believe that when it comes to reporting on fixing the environment, there should be some new and improved rules:

1. Tell the Difference: Companies should make it clear if they are just trying to reduce the harm they’re causing or if they have bigger goals like helping the environment, protecting wildlife, and making things fairer for people.
2. Follow Important Principles: Companies should use some basic principles from science to plan and report on their restoration projects. This way, no matter where the project is, it will meet certain important standards.
3. Work with Local People: Companies should talk to and involve the people who live in the area where they want to do the restoration work right from the start. This will help make sure the projects are well-designed and effective.