Guide to use public biodiversity data in the private sector

Nature and biodiversity underpin our economy and society, yet businesses and financial institutions still face challenges in integrating biodiversity considerations into decision-making. This report explores the critical role of public biodiversity and nature-related data in supporting corporate action, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance, particularly in the context of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the TNFD recommendations. It provides an overview of the current landscape of publicly available biodiversity data, identifies key barriers to its use (including fragmentation, licensing issues, and limited ecological literacy) and offers practical examples and recommendations for companies and financial institutions. While recognising the importance of internal data, the focus is on external datasets produced by public bodies and the scientific community. The report outlines two mutually reinforcing priorities: 1) Businesses must begin using existing data to build internal capability and demand. 2) Systemic support is needed to improve data quality, accessibility, and relevance. It calls for collaboration across sectors and highlights the shared responsibility of financing biodiversity data infrastructure. Ultimately, the report aims to accelerate the use of public data to support nature-positive outcomes and corporate accountability.

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