White Papers

Trees in urban and suburban settings are increasingly being seen as critical infrastructure, bringing a variety of positive benefits to a rapidly urbanizing world. This white paper explores some of the many ways that corporations around the world have utilized community forestry work to provide biodiversity uplift, ecosystem services and resident empowerment within a wide range of communities, as well as how strategic UCF projects can serve all three purposes. 

Meaningful community engagement that goes beyond transactional interactions or conventional corporate philanthropy can greatly enhance a company’s ability to establish, maintain or restore social license to operate. As the current biodiversity and climate crises become more dire, and more opportunities for the private sector to address these issues arise, expectations for companies to act quickly, transparently and in conjunction with scientific consensus will continue to grow.

Given the interconnectivity of habitats and regions, and the key role pollinators play in global food production and trade, the collapse in pollinator populations poses threats to global biodiversity, food security and economic prosperity. It’s therefore critical that companies worldwide take action, contributing to the network of regional pollinator (and pollinator education) initiatives that together are addressing this global crisis.

This white paper explores the importance of Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) like sequestering carbon in soil and vegetation, installing green infrastructure for greater resiliency and biodiversity, and conducting NCS-oriented outreach. Many companies are already employing NCS, even if their conservation programs’ stated goals speak to other needs.

SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 11, 2021 – Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) offers a new white paper available for download today, Leveraging the Power of Nature: Private Sector Potential for Community-First Climate Action. The white paper is sponsored by Cleveland-Cliffs and is available for free in our White Paper library. Since the Paris Agreement was signed […]

It's hard to find a human activity that does not rely on the extraction, transport, processing or disposal of natural resources. While these activities can lead to some degree of habitat fragmentation or pollution while a facility is active, the reclamation work that takes place after operations cease creates new opportunities for habitat creation and connectivity, as well as unique ways to engage the surrounding community. DOWNLOAD

Thinking "smaller" provides private corporate landowners an accessible starting point for action. These actions could develop into gateways for conservation on larger landscapes, and for repetition of small acts of conservation across multiple locations. Designing small for biodiversity is a low risk exercise that can have a high rate of return when a successful small project can be highlighted as an unique but welcome addition to a corporate workplace. DOWNLOAD

Grasslands are one of the most common habitat types in the world and one of the most threatened. An opportunity exists for corporations to manage privately owned grasslands in nature-friendly ways that will realize multiple values for many stakeholders, including benefits to climate change mitigation and adaptation, stormwater run-off, cost savings and aesthetics. DOWNLOAD

With historically low unemployment rates, competition for talent acquisition and retention are driving companies to invest in engagement efforts for a competitive advantage. Employee engagement programs that are focused on conservation and biodiversity offer meaningful and accessible opportunities for employees to get active, learn something new and make a positive contribution to the environment. DOWNLOAD

Birds are everywhere. From the grey pigeon seen on city streets to the brightly feathered tropical species found in rain forests, birds have colonized every continent and evolved to inhabit niches both specialized and general. Because they are everywhere, birds can easily be the focus of a corporate conservation effort. Most species respond well to conservation management, making them an ideal indicator to overall ecosystem health. With accessible technology and an increased need, now is the time for corporate landowners to engage in bird conservation projects. DOWNLOAD