The Essential Role of Biodiversity Data for Robust ESG Reporting

Biodiversity encompasses the variety of life in ecosystems, from soil microbes and forest fungi to wildlife and entire habitats. 

In ESG reporting (Environmental, Social, and Governance reporting), biodiversity data refers to measurable information on these natural assets and their health.

ESG reports have traditionally focused on metrics like carbon emissions and pollution, but biodiversity is now taking centre stage. Global leaders recognise that biodiversity loss poses an existential risk to economies and societies, ranking among the top three most severe risks this decade.

As a result, tracking biodiversity impact is becoming critical, not just a niche concern, for companies aiming to demonstrate sustainability. 

However, many organisations struggle to gather accurate and comprehensive biodiversity data for ESG reports, especially as new regulations emerge. Remote biodiversity assessments using satellite imagery and AI are proving essential, providing the precise, actionable biodiversity data needed for robust and credible ESG reporting.

This blog post explores why biodiversity data is no longer optional in ESG, and how Gentian’s precision monitoring empowers organisations to meet these new challenges.

Jump to: 

• Why Biodiversity Data is No Longer Optional for ESG 
• The Gentian Advantage: Precision Data and Trusted Partnership for ESG Transformation
• Empowering Future-Proof ESG Strategies
  

Why Biodiversity Data is No Longer Optional for ESG

Biodiversity data has shifted from a “nice-to-have” to a must-have in ESG reporting. 

Multiple forces are driving this change, from tighter regulations and frameworks, to investor and customer pressures, to the need for managing nature-related risks. Below, we delve into each of these drivers in detail.

Regulatory Drivers

New sustainability frameworks are making nature-related disclosures mandatory or strongly encouraged, effectively forcing companies to report on biodiversity. 

In the EU, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) now requires thousands of companies to include biodiversity and ecosystems in their annual reports.

CSRD’s biodiversity standard (ESRS E4) means organisations must disclose impacts on species and habitats, not just carbon footprints. 

Meanwhile, the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), a voluntary global framework, has rapidly gained traction. As of early 2024, 320 companies have committed to adopt TNFD reporting, signalling broad corporate support for detailed nature-related disclosure. 

Regulators and standard setters around the world (from the EU to GRI and ISSB) are converging on a clear message: reporting on biodiversity is becoming non-negotiable. Organisations that ignore biodiversity data now risk non-compliance with emerging laws and guidance.

Investor and Stakeholder Pressure

Beyond formal regulations, investors, customers, and other stakeholders are demanding greater transparency and measurable results on biodiversity. 

Surveys show a dramatic rise in investor attention to nature: 56% of investors plan to make biodiversity a significant factor in their investment policy within two years. 

However, nearly 75% of investors say they lack ways to assess biodiversity impact due to insufficient data. This data gap is driving investors to push companies for better biodiversity metrics and disclosures. 

Consumers and business partners are also waking up to nature, as global regulations take flight, investors are focusing on nature and consumers now expect more action on biodiversity. 

Governments, through public procurement and policy, increasingly favour businesses that can demonstrate nature-positive practices.

In short, stakeholder expectations around biodiversity have risen sharply. Companies are under pressure to prove their biodiversity performance with hard data, or risk losing investor confidence and market trust.

Risk Management

Robust biodiversity data is also critical for risk management. Companies reliant on ecosystem services face material threats if those services degrade.

The World Economic Forum warns that over half of global GDP (≈$44 trillion) depends on nature, so biodiversity loss can destabilise supply chains and operations.

By monitoring biodiversity, firms can identify and mitigate nature-related risks before they escalate. Key nature-related risks include:

• Physical risks: Damage or disruption to operations due to ecosystem degradation or loss of services. (For example, the collapse of pollinator populations can reduce crop yields, or deforestation can lead to flooding that halts production). Acute events like wildfires or biodiversity-related disease outbreaks, and chronic issues like soil fertility decline, directly threaten business continuity.
  
  
• Transition risks: Financial and compliance risks from a shifting policy and market landscape. (For instance, new environmental regulations or biodiversity protection laws may restrict certain activities, and companies that fail to adapt could face fines or lost market access). Reputational damage and liability for biodiversity harm also fall into this category, as stakeholder expectations pivot toward nature-positive business.
  
  
• Systemic risks: Economy-wide and systemic impacts resulting from ecosystem collapse. Biodiversity loss is now recognised as a top-three global risk and could cause trillions in GDP decline by 2030. This translates to macroeconomic instability that can affect all sectors – meaning even diversified companies are not immune if nature underpins their value chain.

By integrating comprehensive biodiversity data into ESG risk assessments, organisations can build resilience.

Early warning of ecological changes allows companies to adjust supply chains, adopt sustainable sourcing, or invest in conservation to mitigate risks that might otherwise severely impact financial stability and long-term resilience.

Precision Data and Trusted Partnership for ESG Transformation

Gathering actionable biodiversity data at scale may seem daunting, but Gentian is transforming ESG reporting through precision remote monitoring and a trusted partnership approach.

Gentian empowers clients to confidently include biodiversity in their ESG transformation by delivering unparalleled data quality and expert support, as outlined below.

Precision and Speed for ESG

Gentian leverages very high-resolution satellite imagery and AI to produce the most detailed and accurate biodiversity data available.

Traditional ESG metrics can overlook local ecological nuances, but Gentian’s technology reveals overlooked details, down to small habitat patches or minor disturbances, that are crucial for a reliable biodiversity baseline. 

This precision is critical for establishing accurate starting points and tracking year-on-year changes required in ESG reporting. Using globally recognised habitat classification schemes like IUCN, UKHab, and EUNIS, Gentian automatically classifies habitat types from imagery.

(For a deep dive into these standards, see our internal guide “Demystifying Biodiversity Metrics: IUCN, UKHab, and EUNIS with Satellite AI”).

By mapping habitats to such standards, organisations get data that is comprehensive and comparable across sites and compliant with reporting frameworks.

Equally important is speed. Gentian’s AI-powered platform delivers biodiversity insights in a matter of days, sometimes hours or even minutes, rather than the weeks or months required for manual field surveys. 

This rapid turnaround means that ESG reports can be compiled with up-to-date data, and companies can respond swiftly to any emerging issues.

For example, Gentian provides regular monitoring (e.g. annual) with detailed 12–50 cm resolution imagery processed through automated AI.

Clients receive speedy, customised reports and GIS data layers that slot directly into their existing sustainability systems. Data is delivered in standard formats or via API, enabling seamless integration into ESG reporting software and dashboards.

In short, Gentian offers precision biodiversity metrics at a pace and ease unheard of in traditional ecology, arming organisations with accurate, timely data for ESG disclosures and decision-making.

Visionary Expertise and Scalable Partnership

Beyond technology, Gentian’s team of experts sets it apart. The company is led by ecologists, AI specialists, and remote sensing pioneers working in unison. This interdisciplinary expertise ensures that data outputs are not only technically robust but also scientifically credible and context-aware.

Every assessment is grounded in ecological science, Gentian’s analysts and ecologists validate habitat classifications and insights, so ESG teams can trust the results for their reporting.

By bridging the gap between tech and ecology, Gentian delivers insights that are both cutting-edge and real-world reliable.

Whether a client needs a single-site biodiversity survey or a multi-country portfolio assessment, Gentian’s solutions adapt to the project’s size and complexity. The platform can map a site or an entire supply chain with equal precision, demonstrating the scalability of remote monitoring.

Gentian prides itself on building lasting partnerships, rather than one-off reports, by tailoring services to evolving needs and providing ongoing support.

As regulations and business needs change, Gentian’s data can be customised and expanded, ensuring organisations are never left with static or siloed information.

Crucially, Gentian’s biodiversity data aligns with compliance frameworks like TNFD and CSRD, simplifying regulatory adherence for clients. The data outputs and reports are designed to slot into TNFD-aligned disclosures or CSRD filings, taking a huge burden off internal teams. With

Gentian as a partner, global management consultants and companies get not just raw data, but a roadmap to ESG transformation, combining precision, speed, expert guidance, and scalability to elevate their sustainability performance.

Empowering Future-Proof ESG Strategies

Accurate and actionable biodiversity data from Gentian is indispensable for building comprehensive and credible ESG strategies that stand the test of time.

By finally illuminating nature-related performance with precision, companies can produce ESG reports that reflect the true state of their environmental impact, and drive meaningful action.

This aligns with Gentian’s core mission: to empower people with the truth about nature, helping catalyse a global economy that protects biodiversity and recognises its true value.

In a world where financial success and ecological health are increasingly intertwined, organisations that embrace cutting-edge biodiversity insights will be better equipped to navigate regulatory demands, stakeholder expectations, and the realities of a changing planet.

Ready to elevate your ESG reporting with unparalleled biodiversity data and insight?

Gentian is here to help. As a trusted partner in nature intelligence, Gentian can guide your organisation toward ESG leadership that not only meets compliance but genuinely contributes to a nature-positive future.

Get in touch with Gentian today to transform your ESG reporting and strategy with the power of precision biodiversity monitoring.