Mata Atlântica 2030: The Next Frontier

In the week the world gathers at the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP-15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity to decide on a new set of rules to reverse nature loss and adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, it is worth reflecting on one of the world’s greatest ecological treasures, The Atlantic Forest.

The Atlantic Forest is a crucially important Brazilian biome that has suffered from intense land use and been marred by the loss of native forest and the expansion of agriculture and livestock. Running along the eastern coast of Brazil, stretching inland into Argentina and Paraguay, at present, according to the global environmental organisation, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), less than 2% of this globally important biome is under protected status, making it both the richest and also the most threatened biome in the world.

GRAPE ESG

GRAPE ESG is a company that works in partnership with investors and businesses to develop climate change and sustainability strategies, incorporating ESG factors into operations and investment decisions, and to encourage forest conservation and better management of protected areas. The documentary Mata Atlântica 2030: The Next Frontier has been directed and produced by Ione Anderson and Ricardo M. de Assumpção, Co-Founders of Grape ESG. The São Paulo-based organisation is building an exciting and comprehensive ecosystem for companies and executives to achieve better results with science and sustainability.

Speaking about the film, which launches this month, Ione observes that the Atlantic Forest is the “first frontier of unsustainable development in Brazil”. The Atlantic Forest is the place where 70% of the Brazilian population lives today. As this biome is a provider of fertile soil for food, water, biodiversity and a climate regulator, it offers grand opportunities to be the next frontier to put in place sustainable development for the region.

Ioannis Ioannou gives voice to the issue

The film features important commentary from London Business School’s Ioannis Ioannou, a leading global voice on sustainability and the broader issues associated with Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG).

He says: “We have reached a point where eliminating the destruction of important resources such as the Atlantic Forest is no longer enough. We now need to have a positive, regenerative impact. That’s precisely where companies and executives come in. They have the responsibility to minimise negative impacts of their current business models and operations. Secondly, and more importantly, we know that businesses can innovate and create new business models that can have important regenerative effects.”

Dr Ioannou teaches a course at LBS, ‘Sustainability Leadership and Corporate Responsibility’, which both Ione and Ricardo attended in 2020. “Grape ESG is a direct result of Dr Ioannou’s Sustainability Leadership and Corporate Responsibility course at LBS. I first met Ricardo Assumpcao, Co-Founder of Grape ESG, at this course in 2020. I had been following Ioannis’ research work for several years while working for an intergovernmental organisation. Dr Ioannou has been a mentor and inspirational leader to us since that time,” comments Ione.