CURITIBA, — The International Finance Corporation, the private arm of the World Bank, has launched a Web-based guide to help companies operating in emerging markets understand, manage, and benefit from biodiversity. The launch takes place on the occasion of the eighth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

"Emerging markets hold the majority of the world's most significant biodiversity assets," said Richard Caines, Manager of IFC’s Environment and Social Development Knowledge & Innovation Group, responsible for the guide. “Through this guide, we aim to provide information that will contribute to a sustainable use of these resources by the private sector.”

The guide provides an overview of issues surrounding biodiversity, including its importance to society and the relationship of biodiversity to business. Through examples and links to other information, this Web-based tool helps businesses understand both how they can manage the business risks from biodiversity issues, and how they can capitalize on business opportunities, such as new markets, that are associated with biodiversity maintenance and protection.

The guide features sector-specific biodiversity issues for ten major industry sectors, as well as several case studies on how companies (including a number of IFC clients) have addressed biodiversity issues in their business operations.