Why Companies Need to Invest in Science, Conservation

(Written in collaboration with Silvana Becerra Tavano)

In an increasingly urbanized world, where city expansion threatens to consume the last remaining natural spaces, urban ecosystems have taken on a critical role. They are not just green patches surrounded by concrete, they are living infrastructures that sustain the quality of life for millions. One emblematic example is the Barranca de Tarango, located in Álvaro Obregon, Mexico City, covering 270ha of native vegetation, including patches of oak forest and xeric scrubland.

This barranca is an ecological treasure providing essential functions: carbon capture, oxygen production, water regulation, urban heat island mitigation, and vital habitat for wildlife. However, it faces urgent threats: uncontrolled urbanization, pollution from solid waste and untreated wastewater, and land-use change. The degradation of the barranca not only leads to biodiversity loss but also weakens its ability to provide essential ecosystem services to the city.

This is where companies have a unique and strategic opportunity: investing in sustainability programs that not only mitigate their own environmental footprint but directly contribute to science and the conservation of these ecosystems. Why should they do it? Let’s explore the fundamental reasons.

1. Ecosystem services sustain our cities and economies

Barrancas like Tarango are authentic natural infrastructures. They provide services that no artificial technology can effectively or economically replace. For example:

• Aquifer recharge: these zones allow rainwater to infiltrate the soil and replenish underground aquifers, ensuring water availability in a city facing growing water stress.

• Carbon capture and climate regulation: barranca vegetation absorbs CO₂, helping mitigate climate change impacts.

• Air and water purification: they act as natural filters that reduce air pollutants and clean surface water.

• Biodiversity refuge: they provide critical habitats for birds, reptiles, mammals, and native plants, all playing key roles in ecological balance.

When these services collapse, cities face massive costs, from floods to intensified heatwaves, biodiversity loss, public health deterioration, and resource conflicts. Companies that understand this connection can proactively manage systemic risks that affect their value chains and the communities they depend on.

2. Scientific data strengthens responsible business decisions

Conservation is not just about planting trees — it requires rigorous information. Bird and bat monitoring in Tarango, for example, isn’t done just because these animals are charismatic (although they are), it’s because they are ecological indicators.

Birds respond sensitively to changes in habitat quality, while bats are essential for insect control and pollination. Both groups reflect ecosystem health and help identify problems before they escalate into crises.

Currently, Ectagono and Ríos Tarango A.C. are leading an ambitious biodiversity monitoring program in the Barranca de Tarango, focused mainly on birds and bats, thanks to the investment of BBVA México. This project not only generates valuable conservation data but also builds an applied science model that can be replicated in other urban spaces.

When companies support initiatives that combine biological monitoring, citizen science, and public outreach, they don’t just boost their reputation, they access knowledge that can better inform their sustainability policies, identify emerging risks, and spark innovation across their operations.

3. Investing in sustainability creates shared value

Companies operate within social and environmental ecosystems. Investing in sustainability is not just philanthropy, it’s strategy.

A well-designed conservation program that involves the local community (like the bird and bat monitoring, which also raises neighborhood awareness) generates multiple benefits:

• Social capital: local communities see the company as an ally in protecting their surroundings.

• Reputation and social license to operate: in contexts of increasing pressure for environmental accountability, having credible, measurable conservation projects is a competitive differentiator.

• Talent attraction: more and more professionals want to work for companies that don’t just generate profits, but also have purpose.

• Regulatory compliance and market access: investors and consumers are looking for companies aligned with ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria, and conservation programs are a tangible way to demonstrate that commitment.

4. Urban restoration is a laboratory for innovation

Urban wetlands are spaces where innovative solutions can be tested, measured, and scaled. The Renacer de los Ecosistemas project proposes a clear methodology:

• Selection of representative sampling sites (near water bodies, urban areas, and well-conserved fragments).

• Monitoring across the four seasons to capture key biological events for birds and bats (migration, reproduction, feeding).

• Use of technological tools: binoculars, cameras, acoustic recorders, data analysis with diversity indices and statistical models.

When companies support these kinds of programs, they also open the door to collaborations with universities, NGOs, tech startups, and local governments. This can lead to joint developments, from citizen science apps to green infrastructure solutions that can be integrated into real estate, industrial, or logistics projects.

5. Corporate commitment to science inspires society

Finally, there’s a powerful and often underestimated aspect: the inspirational effect.

When a company actively engages in supporting applied science, ecological restoration, and environmental outreach, it sends a clear and compelling message to its employees, consumers, investors, and society at large that it is both possible and necessary to act.

The monitoring currently being carried out by Ectagono, Ríos Tarango A.C., and with the investment of BBVA México is not just a technical exercise, it’s an opportunity to tell stories. Stories about the return of species to restored areas, the recovery of degraded landscapes, and the collective building of more resilient cities. Companies that join these efforts position themselves as change leaders, capable of mobilizing resources, knowledge, and hope.

The conservation of urban ecosystems like the Barranca de Tarango is neither a luxury nor a responsibility that falls solely on governments or environmental organizations. It’s a collective challenge that requires the active participation of the private sector.

Investing in sustainability programs that support science and conservation is, today more than ever, a strategic decision. It allows companies to reduce risks, drive innovation, strengthen community ties, meet international standards, and — above all — contribute to building vibrant, resilient, and livable cities.

Because protecting Tarango is not just about saving a green corner, it’s about securing the environmental, social, and economic future of the entire metropolis. And that’s a future no company can afford to ignore.