Common and conflicting interests in the engagements between conservation organizations and corporations.
The conservation community increasingly views the corporate sector as a positive force for conservation. Collaborations between corporations and nongovernmental conservation organizations (NGOs) seek to mitigate the negative effects of corporate activities and augment positive conservation outcomes. I reviewed the establishment of corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies by corporations; the emerging focus on environmental practices and sustainability; and the history of engagement between corporations and nongovernmental organizations. I considered the ethical and reputation vulnerabilities of these collaborations, which depend especially on the financial nature of the relationship and reviewed how CSR approaches have influenced corporate practices. I concluded that whereas CSR practices can act to mitigate negative environmental impact, to date they have had limited positive effect on biodiversity conservation.
Wildlife Conservation Society, 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10471, USA. wildcons@gmail.com
John G
JG
Robinson
D044822:Biodiversity; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D009938:Organizations / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D017149:Private Sector / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D011362:Professional Corporations / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D012941:Social Responsibility