‘Nature-positive’ (NP) is emerging as an increasingly used term, intended to encompass goals aimed at reversing the global decline in biodiversity and the incessant destruction of ecosystems. The 1.5-degree goal of the Paris agreement has become a unifying target in the climate discourse, accompanied by the guiding concept of ‘net-zero’ emissions. Anequivalent, widely accepted target for biodiversity has been called for, with NP being named a contender to take this position. However, the concept NP, and net-zero alike, have been subject to criticism. Building on an extensive literature search, this study seeks to identify and analyse the most frequently employed definitions of NP, and who promotes them. It also aims to draw conclusions from a comparative analysis where definitions of NP are mapped onto the IPBES- promoted Nature Futures Framework (NFF). For this purpose, an assessment tool (‘the NFF Mixing Triangle’) is presented. The study finds that NP is frequently used without specifying its meaning, in scientific and non-scientific literature alike. While existing dominant definitions are largely aligned on the conceptual level, there is a lack of consensus on a common definition among stakeholders. The Global Goal for Nature (GG4N) stands out as the most referenced source for defining NP, and is found to have the strongest alignment with NFF. While problematising and discussing criticism, the study suggests a number of focus areas that could serve the future potential of NP. This includes converging NP definitions, balancing definitions across the NFF value dimensions, and considering applicability across multiple scales. An aspiration to consolidate guiding frameworks, use of the Mitigation Hierarchy to strengthen the robustness of NP, and focus on stewardship inside corporations as well as across sectors and value chains, is proposed. Meanwhile, the study suggests that the external drivers of legislation and regulation, and the current growth paradigm and consumption patterns, need to be addressed in concert if NP is to have a real contribution to sustainability transformation.

Tourism fuels the Zanzibari economy but adds to the depletion of marine resources. However, the concept of corporate biosphere stewardship suggests that companies with consolidated power can influence sustainability pathways. Can tourist hotels practically support octopus closures, a novel conservation tool, as a way towards sustainable marine resource consumption? I address this issue by making the first known attempt to estimate Zanzibari hotels’ seasonal and annual octopus demand, mapping their value chain structure and identifying the nature of their demand. The study relies on semi-structured interviews of 31 respondents (hotel staff, hotel suppliers, market traders, food importers and key informants) and official data. I assess the demand of hotels to range between 16 to 27 percent of the mean 2008-2018 annual catch in Zanzibar. Hence, this consumer power hotels may confer agency for them to contribute to resource conservation such as octopus closures. Hotels may support closures particularly if they match seasonality in octopus price and demand. However, hoteliers’ use of a wide sourcing network including imports may lead to diluted price signals hampering understanding and incentives to protect the local octopus supply. Additionally, hoteliers’ weight preferences largely correspond with the Zanzibari voluntary minimum weight limit, but do not align with the desired outcome of bigger octopus from closures. The typical practise of purchasing fresh octopus and limited freezer capacity of hotels may also limit their agency to support octopus closures. This study makes a novel contribution of linking octopus conservation with tourism. It furthermore nuances the concept of corporate biosphere stewardship by assessing the practical potential of Zanzibari tourism, a less consolidated industry, to contribute to marine resource conservation.  Further research into local biosphere stewardship of value chains within low-income country contexts should investigate differences in use of consumer power by small as opposed to large-scale businesses. In addition, similar assessments could benefit from research into local spatial and relational value chains, and their influence on hoteliers’ capacity to perceive of supply status through price signals, not only for octopus but seafood in general. / Utalii unakuza uchumi wa zanzibar lakini umekubwa na kupungua kwa rasilimali za bahari. Ingawaje, dhana ya uhirika wa kibailogio stewardship umependekeza kua nguvu ya mashirikiano ya makampuni yanaweza kuchangia njia endelevu. Inawezekana kwa mahoteli ya kitalii yakatoa msaada wa vitendo wa kufungia pweza wasivuliwe kwa kipindi maalumu, kama zana ya uhifadhi wa mazingira ambayo ni njia ya kupelekea matumizi endelevu ya matumizi ya rasilimali ya bahari? Ninaangalia suala hili kwa kufanya majaribio ya kwanza kwa kukadiria mahitaji ya pweza kwa hoteli za Zanzibar kwa msimu na kwa kila mwaka, kuyaainisha maeneo ya mnyororo wa thamani na kutambua maumbile ya upungufu wake. Utafiti huu ulikuwa ni wa muundo wa mahojiano ya wazi na watu 31 walihojiwa (wafanyakazi wa hoteli, wasambazaji wa mahoteli, wauzaji wa masokoni, wasafirihaji na watu wengine wanohusika) na taarifa za takwimu. Nilipima mahitaji ya mahoteli kwa asilimia kati ya 16 mpaka 27 ya jumla 2008-2018 upatikanaji wa kila mwaka kwa zanzibar. Hivyo basi nguvu ya maoteli wanaweza kua mashirika ya kuchangia uhifadhi wa rasilimali kama kufungia mwamba kwa uvuvi wa pweza. Mahoteli yanaweza kuwasaidia kufungwa kwa mwamba kwa uvuvi wa pweza hasahasa ikiwa watafanana kwa msimu na kwa upatikanaji. Ingawaje wenye mahoteli wanatafuta chanzo kikubwa ikiwemo kuagiza kutoka nje ambayo inaweza kushusha bei na ni ishara ya kuzuia kutoa motisha ya kulinda usambazaji wa ndani. Kwakuengezea wenye mahoteli uzito wanaoupendelea unawiana na ule wa kiwango cha chini cha Zanzibar, lakini hayaendani na matokeo ya matakwa yao ya pweza wakubwa wakati wa kufungia mwamba kwa uvuvi wa pweza. Mahoteli hayawezi kuwa kama mashirika ya kusaidia kufungs pweza kutokana na kutaka pweza ambao wametoka kuvuliwa na vilevile uwezo mdogo wa majokofu yao kuweza kuhifadhi pweza hao. Utafiti huu utaleta mchango mpya baina ya uhifandhi wa pweza na utalii. Na vilevile itaelezea dhana ya mashirikiano ya kibiosphere stewardship kwa kuchunguza umuhimu halisi wa utalii wa Zanzibar, muunganiko mdogo wa wadau katika kuchangia uhifadhi wa rasilimali za bahari. Tafiti zijazo zinazohusiana na biosphere stewardship ya mtiririko wa thamani kwa muktadha wa nchi zenye kipato kidogo zifanye uchunguzi juu ya tofauti ya nguvu ya watumiaji wadogo wadogo inavyoenda kinyume na biashara kubwa. Kwa kuengezea uchunguzi kama huo utanufaisha watu wa hali za chini na mahusiano ya mnyororo wa thamani na mchango wao kwa uwezo wa wenye mahoteli kutambua hali ya usambazaji kupitia bei zake si kwa pweza peke tu bali ni kwa vyakula vya baharini vyote.