Reflections on my Business & Biodiversity seminar in Hong Kong: the Financial Capital of Asia

The connection between business and biodiversity has been getting more attention — and quite rightly so. A preprint I shared on EcoEvoRxiv sparked interest, first at the Dagens Industri Business and Biodiversity Conference in Stockholm, and more recently at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), where I was invited by the School of Biological Sciences to give a seminar on new ways to finance biodiversity data.

Despite being held during the quieter summer period, the session filled the room. The audience brought together people from different disciplines: researchers from the HKU Business School, members of a Hong Kong–based think tank working on urban nature-based solutions, and students studying subjects ranging from marine biodiversity to environmental policy.

The discussion highlighted how vital interdisciplinary exchange has become. Bridging science, business, and policy requires shared understanding, clear communication, and a willingness to look beyond disciplinary boundaries — and a particularly good example of this communication challenge lies in the dialogue between the disciplines of business and biodiversity. The return on investment stands out as a key pain point.

Another reflection from the experience was that the business case for biodiversity data is broadly consistent across regions, but governance structures often present the real challenge. Comparing, for example, Sweden — a highly developed country with strong biodiversity data coverage in a temperate zone — with tropical biodiversity hotspots such as Malaysia highlights how differences in governance, policy frameworks, and institutional capacity can shape how biodiversity data is valued and used.

Much of the global conversation has focused on defining the problem, and I remain a strong advocate for reminding people of the taxonomic impediment and the persistent undervaluation of biodiversity information. Yet there is a growing need to shift toward solutions — exploring how data can create real incentives for better decisions and more sustainable outcomes.

People will fund biodiversity data, but only if the value and process are clearly communicated. I reckon stakeholders are ready to pay for it, if we are ready to communicate how.