From biodiversity to business value: University of Oulu researchers build a new model for a nature-positive economy
Through the Nature Positive Northern Ostrobothnia (NPOS) project, a new systems-based model is being tested to help organizations move beyond reducing harm toward actively creating positive impacts for nature and society.
Biodiversity and business success are deeply connected. Biodiversity loss is no longer just an environmental concern—it is increasingly a business risk. Supply chains, energy systems, water availability, and regional economies all depend on healthy ecosystems. In Northern Ostrobothnia, researchers at the University of Oulu are studying this connection in practice through the Nature Positive Northern Ostrobothnia (NPOS) project, working closely with companies across sectors such as energy, mining, construction, and services.
Over the past two years, the research team has conducted in-depth interviews and workshops with regional businesses to understand how companies perceive their impact on nature—and how ready they are to move beyond traditional “do less harm” sustainability strategies.
“Many participants acknowledged a growing awareness that biodiversity, water systems, and climate stability directly affect their long-term resilience, reputation, and competitiveness. At the same time, they highlighted challenges such as short-term financial pressures, fragmented reporting frameworks, and uncertainty about how to measure real ecological gains,” says Project Manager, researcher Navid Yaraghi.
In response, the NPOS project has developed and tested a new conceptual model that combines systems thinking with a multi-capital perspective. Instead of looking only at financial performance, the model encourages companies to consider how their activities affect six interconnected forms of value: natural, social, human, intellectual, production, and financial capital.
“By mapping feedback loops—such as how environmental restoration can strengthen community trust, innovation, and long-term profitability—the approach helps decision-makers see nature not as an external cost, but as a core asset for business success,” Yaraghi explains.
Insights from the team’s two scientific articles underline a key message: genuine nature-positive strategies require ambition across the whole value chain, clear governance at the leadership level, and integration of biodiversity, climate, and social goals into everyday business decisions. The NPOS model is now being piloted with regional companies to explore how these ideas can be translated into practical tools, indicators, and business strategies tailored to the Northern Ostrobothnia context.
The Nature Positive Northern Ostrobothnia project is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and implemented by the University of Oulu. The project aims to support regional businesses and stakeholders in developing, testing, and applying nature-positive business models that strengthen both ecological resilience and long-term economic vitality in Northern Ostrobothnia.