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Challenges and Opportunities for Innovative Biodiversity Monitoring Technologies in an Impact Investment Context

Stoev, Dimiter LU (2025) In IIIEE Master Thesis IMEM01 20251
The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
Abstract
Impact investing is a recently emerged field which aims to combine the goal of achieving financial returns with positive environmental or social impact. The documented loss of biodiversity has caused the emergence of many corporate environmental impact reporting frameworks, which have sometimes been criticized for their lack of biodiversity-outcome indicators. This study aims to take stock of the current biodiversity impact indicators used by impact funds and classify them into the DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) framework. In a subsequent step, semi-structured interviews are performed with impact fund representatives and scientists focusing on biodiversity monitoring technology to uncover possible opportunities and... (More)
Impact investing is a recently emerged field which aims to combine the goal of achieving financial returns with positive environmental or social impact. The documented loss of biodiversity has caused the emergence of many corporate environmental impact reporting frameworks, which have sometimes been criticized for their lack of biodiversity-outcome indicators. This study aims to take stock of the current biodiversity impact indicators used by impact funds and classify them into the DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) framework. In a subsequent step, semi-structured interviews are performed with impact fund representatives and scientists focusing on biodiversity monitoring technology to uncover possible opportunities and challenges for the adoption of these technologies in an impact investment context. The data from these interviews is classified using a TOE (Technology, Organization, Environment) framework for technology adoption. The results show an overwhelming dominance of response indicators, while state, impact, and driver indicators are mostly missing. Innovative biodiversity monitoring technologies can provide a cost-effective and scalable solution for continuous monitoring of the state and impact on biodiversity. However, resource constraints, lack of investor demand for sophisticated reporting, and perceived uncertainty of the biodiversity space are stunting adoption. Improvements in reporting framework recommendations, data interoperability, the introduction of stricter requirements for biodiversity reporting, and the development of strong use cases could possibly increase the applicability of innovative biodiversity monitoring technologies. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Stoev, Dimiter LU
supervisor
organization
course
IMEM01 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
impact investing, biodiversity, remote sensing
publication/series
IIIEE Master Thesis
report number
2025:12
ISSN
1401-9191
language
English
id
9209529
date added to LUP
2025-08-12 14:27:26
date last changed
2025-08-12 14:27:26
@misc{9209529,
  abstract     = {{Impact investing is a recently emerged field which aims to combine the goal of achieving financial returns with positive environmental or social impact. The documented loss of biodiversity has caused the emergence of many corporate environmental impact reporting frameworks, which have sometimes been criticized for their lack of biodiversity-outcome indicators. This study aims to take stock of the current biodiversity impact indicators used by impact funds and classify them into the DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) framework. In a subsequent step, semi-structured interviews are performed with impact fund representatives and scientists focusing on biodiversity monitoring technology to uncover possible opportunities and challenges for the adoption of these technologies in an impact investment context. The data from these interviews is classified using a TOE (Technology, Organization, Environment) framework for technology adoption. The results show an overwhelming dominance of response indicators, while state, impact, and driver indicators are mostly missing. Innovative biodiversity monitoring technologies can provide a cost-effective and scalable solution for continuous monitoring of the state and impact on biodiversity. However, resource constraints, lack of investor demand for sophisticated reporting, and perceived uncertainty of the biodiversity space are stunting adoption. Improvements in reporting framework recommendations, data interoperability, the introduction of stricter requirements for biodiversity reporting, and the development of strong use cases could possibly increase the applicability of innovative biodiversity monitoring technologies.}},
  author       = {{Stoev, Dimiter}},
  issn         = {{1401-9191}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{IIIEE Master Thesis}},
  title        = {{Challenges and Opportunities for Innovative Biodiversity Monitoring Technologies in an Impact Investment Context}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}