Episode 11
Harvey Locke
Nature Positive

Harvey Locke is a Canadian conservationist, writer, and photographer. He is a recognized global leader in the field of parks, wilderness, wildlife and large landscape conservation. He is a founder of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Beyond the Aichi Targets.

In this interview, Harvey clarifies a powerful concept he’s helped to define at a global level – ‘Nature Positive’ – and helps us understand the implications of this concept for business and investment.

Nature is in three main conditions:

You will find nature in three main conditions: 1) large wild areas (26% of land), 2) shared landscape which is a mix of industrial and wild areas (56% of land) and 3) cities & farms which are heavily transformed by humans (18% of land).

The challenge is that we’re ‘ripping chunks’ out of wild ecological systems and don’t completely understand the implications of this for humans or the planet.

Defining the ‘Nature Positive’ concept:

Nature Positive is this idea that we can move from a situation of nature decline to one of restoration and abundance. Every business has an operating context and this is reliant on the health of the planet.

What business can do to pursue ‘Nature Positive’ goals:

The first thing a business or investment leader can do is ‘see that business and nature are interconnected’.

Ask yourself - where do you operate and what are your impacts on nature? Are your direct operations or supply chains impacting large wild areas? If so, find a nature positive solution to halt negative impacts.

Once you’ve aligned your operations and supply chains with a nature positive approach, engage your employees to gain their help in becoming increasingly nature positive.