Biodiversity and Corporate Social Responsibility: Perspectives from East Water Based on case study entitled : “Biodiversity and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR ): The Perspectives from East Water ” Authored by : Kanyanart Virapandu, from East Water (Public) Company Limited., Thailand Presented by : Kanyanart Virapandu, at Asia Regional Forum on Biodiversity, Cha-am, Thailand, November 2011 Biodiversity has been in the spotlight in the environmental arena for several years. Now, it is finally moving forward and penetrating the business sphere. At first glance, people do not recognize the crucial connection between business and biodiversity. Business is perceived to be detached from biodiversity. Biodiversity, however, knows no boundaries, cutting across all sectors – the business sector included. Business depends on biodiversity, relying on plant and animal species and ecosystem services for their products: food, medicine, water, building materials, paper, fuel, fiber, and more. Nature provides business with the fundamental components for long-term profits and survival. While businesses can have direct or indirect impact on biodiversity, they also have relevant biodiversity-related knowledge, expertise, and resources needed to conserve biological resources. The business sector is an integral part of the solution to biodiversity loss. Biodiversity is considered an important issue in Thai society, especially in the business arena. Many government agencies are encouraging the private sector to take part in addressing the issue of biodiversity loss. The business and biodiversity movement in Thailand began with several meetings to brainstorm possible areas of cooperation between the government and the private sector. The biodiversity issue is seen as a channel that helps support charitable acts that have sustainable benefits to society. Sustainability is the main factor that challenges private sector to hold their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. The goal is not only to whitewash (or greenwash) or be seen as mere charitable acts. The ultimate goal is to ponder about the social benefits of these charitable acts in the long run. Important issues such as biodiversity fuel the need to hold CSR activities in a sustainable manner. The Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Public Company Limited (East Water Co. Ltd.) realizes the importance of focusing on biodiversity conservation CSR not just an act of charity, but as something that can provide a tangible and sustainable benefit to society. East Water was set up by a cabinet resolution on 25 September 1992 to manage and supply raw water for industry and household consumption through a network of underground water pipelines. Maintaining the water supply is an important factor in the plan to develop the Eastern Seaboard region to become Thailand’s major industrialized zone. East Water is also working to develop environmental management for utilities and renewable energy. Its mission include: increase in investment and development of the water business for sustainable growth; increase in investment in environmental infrastructure, utilities and renewable energy business; provision of excellent services to customers; and management with good governance, corporate social responsibility and stakeholders’ relationship to sustain stakeholders’ satisfaction. Professional management and good corporate governance enable East Water to successfully exploit the capital market and raise funds to build and operate the underground pipeline network. As a major shareholder in East Water, the Thai government has earned 3 billion baht in tax ENCOURAGING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BUSINESS AND COMMUNITIES FOR BIODIVERSITY 117
In Celebration of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 84th Birthday Anniversary
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