Biodiversity: A New International Standard ISO 17298
On October 7, 2025, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) introduced in Rwanda the first global standard dedicated to biodiversity management — ISO 17298 “Biodiversity in the strategy and operations of organizations.”
Why It Matters
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation rank among the top five global risks in terms of both likelihood and impact.
More than USD 44 trillion of global economic value — over half of the world’s GDP — is moderately or highly dependent on nature.
Biodiversity is not only an environmental issue but also a financial and economic resilience factor: the decline of natural capital directly affects supply chains, resource costs, investment flows, and social stability.
What the New Standard Offers
ISO 17298 provides a unified framework to help organizations:
systematically assess their impacts on nature and ecosystem services
integrate biodiversity management into strategy, operations, and supply chains
build transparent reporting and communication processes
prepare for emerging disclosure requirements, including TNFD and GRI frameworks
Key Benefits for Business
The standard applies to all types of organizations — from SMEs to large corporations, public institutions, and cities.
Its main benefits include:
alignment with current international biodiversity and disclosure frameworks
reduced environmental and reputational risks, increased operational resilience
improved access to green finance and stronger investor confidence
enhanced transparency and efficiency of conservation activities
strengthened institutional capacity in ESG and sustainable development
How ENSOR Can Help
ENSORsupports organizations in integrating biodiversity considerations into strategy and management through:
assessment of biodiversity status and ecosystem services
analysis of impacts and dependencies, including supply-chain linkages
evaluation of compliance with national and international standards (ISO, TNFD, GRI, IFC PS6, EBRD ESR6)
risk and opportunity analysis based on the TNFD LEAP approach (Locate – Evaluate – Assess – Prepare);
preparation of corporate sustainability reports and strategic documentation
development of policies, plans, and programs for biodiversity management
training and advisory services on biodiversity and ecosystem-related risk management