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Green Enterprises and Nature Based Solutions

Nature-Based Enterprises (NBEs) are private or third sector organisations that place nature at the core of their business. Driven by environmental and societal goals, the success of such enterprises is of high importance to realise the potential of Nature Based Solutions (NbS) and contribute to addressing the twin climate change and biodiversity crises we face.¹ NBEs are defined as enterprises that use nature either directly or indirectly. Nature may be used directly by growing, harnessing, harvesting or restoring natural resources in a sustainable way and/or indirectly by contributing to the planning, delivery or stewardship of NBS.

It should be noted that Nature-based enterprises (NBEs) have recently emerged as important actors in the delivery of nature-based solutions to societal challenges. Nature-based solutions such as green spaces, parks, forests, and blue-green infrastructure generate multiple benefits—from reduced temperatures to mitigation against flooding—while simultaneously helping to increase the health and well-being of urban citizens, amongst other benefits. A nature-based enterprise should consequently contribute positively to biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Importance of Nature Based Enterprises

Research shows that nature-based enterprises are a source of both high-tech and low-skilled jobs. These enterprises are also aligned with the goal of the just transition to a nature-positive, carbon neutral and equitable economy.

The increased involvement of private sector and community organisations in delivering NbS has the potential to contribute to long-term sustainable economic development in harmony with nature.

They are a cost-effective way of addressing climate change while also addressing biodiversity and land degradation.

Case study of Nature Based Enterprise²

Nature Based Beekeeping

Much of the attention around green jobs/enterprises has been focused on jobs/enterprises associated with reducing emissions, for example recycling, energy saving technology, alternative construction materials among others. However other natural based enterprises like bee keeping have been proven appropriate and effective enterprises considering the benefits of bees; ecologically, economically, culturally and biologically.

Nature-based Beekeeping (NBB) is an approach of keeping bees, which combines knowledge of honey-bee ecology with local techniques, to combat poverty and hunger. The Nature-based beekeeping approach depends on low-cost, own-made beehives and wise use of natural resources including bees, flowers, forests and hive-making materials. This approach relies on forest beekeeping, subsequently supporting forest conservation. The additional benefits of this enterprise include generation of income, community support for habitat conservation as well as being a climate change mitigation through protected forests for bees.

NBB creates a strong synergy between habitat conservation and forest maintenance and supports climate change mitigation. NBB is adaptable to differing contexts and is accessible to people in remote areas and those who have no access to conventional beekeeping supplies and equipment. This enterprise is therefore accessible to the underprivileged and has led to increased household resilience, stronger communities and a healthier natural environment.

In addition, NBB builds on local expertise and knowledge and empowers people to connect with their local traditions and cultures. The potential for local job creation is tremendous, comprising both highly technical green jobs but also other jobs that are low skilled. Notably, women and youth have been the biggest beneficiaries.

Bees for Women

An African proverb says: When you empower a woman, you empower a generation .This belief is reflected in our society herein Uganda where the empowerment of women has made a tremendous change in societies where they live. By enabling women to earn their own income, the country has witnessed the benefits trickle down to entire villages

Bee keeping and Honey production has been an ideal project and has led to an improvement in our incomes. The project has contributed towards the conservation of the environment hence combatting climate change. It has encouraged tree planting since a bee keeping project needs variety of trees and flower to provide nectar from a range of flowering shrubs and trees (“more trees equal more bees”). It is thus in the interests of beekeepers to conserve and protect their environment. This endeavour has gone beyond mere participation – it has empowered women and transformed our lives in the community. Women are financially benefiting from this project and this has provided additional benefits within the community such as leadership opportunities in the community governance structures.

The biggest obstacle encountered is convincing community members that beekeeping is not exclusively the domain of men. Traditionally, beekeeping has been both labour-intensive and dangerous. However, modern beehives and handling techniques have reduced on the challenges, and women have learned the art of nature-based bee keeping. They have been trained on how to build apiaries, colonise and manage hives. They have also been connected to markets for the sale of harvested honey and bees’ wax.

The direct benefits of beekeeping are numerous. Honey can be sold without additional processing, meaning there will be no extra cost to us farmers. Since bees are pollinators, beekeeping contributes to a healthy ecosystem. Increasing the number of healthy hives increases crop yields, helps maintain biodiversity and speeds up land restoration.

Challenges of Nature Based Enterprises

Lack of funding/support in the public and private sector for NbS approaches. The UNEP State of Finance for Nature report (2021) estimates that current investment in NbS globally is approximately $133 billion annually. However, to meet climate change, biodiversity and land degradation targets, the UNEP calls for a tripling of investment by 2030 and a quadrupling of investment in NbS by 2050. The World Economic Forum (2020) provides economic justification for increased investment in nature. It further quantifies that over half of the global GDP, $44 trillion, is potentially threatened by nature loss while the transition to a nature-positive economy could create 395 million jobs by 2030.

The absence of a regulatory framework/incentives to stimulate take-up of NbS

Lack of evidence of the effectiveness of NbS remains a major obstacle that is compounded by a lack of knowledge on how to measure the multiple impacts of NbS

Limited partnerships among the local green enterprises carrying out apiary/beekeeping to facilitate knowledge exchange among the enterprises and also share production costs when need arises

The high level of informality among the local green enterprises implementing nature based solutions limits them from accessing financing for scale up of activities hence remain small and rudimentary

Low competition at international level due to quality and branding concerns of the honey and bee products hence low market acceptance at the international level

Recommendations

• Government should integrate NbS into policy frameworks
• Address skills gaps through capacity building, training and education and encourage partnerships among NbEs carrying out the same activity
• Government through Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should place incentives to facilitate formalization of different NbEs so that they can acquire necessary funding from other partners to scale up they businesses but also contribute to the revenue base of the country
• Government should provide funding for more Research and Development in apiary/bee keeping business so that NbEs are supported to produce high quality honey and related bee products to compete internationally and fetch more revenue for the enterprises

Endnotes

© 2024 Advocates Coalition for Development & Environment. All Rights Reserved

Plot 96, Kanjokya Street. Box 29836, Kampala-UGANDA
Tel: +256 (0) 312812150 Email: acode@acode-u.org

www.acode-u.org

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