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Managerial Views of Corporate Impacts and Dependencies on Ecosystem Services: A Case of International and Domestic Forestry Companies in China

Author

Listed:
  • D. D’Amato

    (University of Helsinki)

  • M. Wan

    (University of Helsinki)

  • N. Li

    (Nanjing Forestry University)

  • M. Rekola

    (University of Helsinki)

  • A. Toppinen

    (University of Helsinki)

Abstract

A line of research is emerging investigating the private sector impacts and dependencies on critical biodiversity and ecosystem services, and related business risks and opportunities. While the ecosystem services narrative is being forwarded globally as a key paradigm for promoting business sustainability, there is scarce knowledge of how these issues are considered at managerial level. This study thus investigates managerial views of corporate sustainability after the ecosystem services concept. We analyse interviews conducted with 20 managers from domestic and international forestry companies operating with a plantation-based business model in China. Content analysis was employed to analyse the data, with a focus on four key areas: (1) interviewee familiarity with the ecosystem services concept; (2) their views of corporate dependencies and impacts on ecosystem services; (3) related business risks and opportunities; and (4) viability of existing instruments and practices that can be employed in detecting and addressing business impacts and dependencies on ecosystem services. Through an inductive approach to the empirical findings, we refined a framework that holds operational value for developing company response strategies to ecosystem services impact/dependence assessment, ensuring that all issues are addressed comprehensively, and that related risks and opportunities are properly acknowledged.

Suggested Citation

  • D. D’Amato & M. Wan & N. Li & M. Rekola & A. Toppinen, 2018. "Managerial Views of Corporate Impacts and Dependencies on Ecosystem Services: A Case of International and Domestic Forestry Companies in China," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(4), pages 1011-1028, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:150:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-016-3169-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-016-3169-8
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    2. Marlen S. Krause & Nils Droste & Bettina Matzdorf, 2021. "What makes businesses commit to nature conservation?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 741-755, February.
    3. Qingjian Zhao & Zuomin Wen & Anne Toppinen, 2018. "Constructing the Embodied Carbon Flows and Emissions Landscape from the Perspective of Supply Chain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Chen, Cheng & Matzdorf, Bettina & Davis, Marlen, 2024. "Companies preferences and willingness to pay for ecosystem services credits through an online-marketplace," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    5. Angela Small & Alice Owen & Jouni Paavola, 2022. "Organizational use of ecosystem service approaches: A critique from a systems theory perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 284-296, January.
    6. D'Amato, D. & Korhonen, J. & Toppinen, A., 2019. "Circular, Green, and Bio Economy: How Do Companies in Land-Use Intensive Sectors Align with Sustainability Concepts?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 116-133.
    7. Ivan Montiel & Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Junghoon Park & Raquel Antolín-López & Bryan W. Husted, 2021. "Implementing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(5), pages 999-1030, July.

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