Biodiversity research: a systematic literature review and direction for future research

Purpose This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the current body of literature pertaining to biodiversity, conservation, and extinction accounting. This research examines 122 studies published in 40 academic journals. Design/methodology/approach The methodology adopted in this study follows a systematic literature review approach previously developed and utilised in other scholarly publications, including similar reviews on the topic. Findings The conclusions of this study emphasise significant knowledge gaps and inconclusive results in the existing literature across various domains. These aspects include identifying areas for future research in terms of research designs, locations, scope, and theories. Additionally, it is worth noting that there is a dearth of research that specifically examines biodiversity in underdeveloped countries, the socioeconomic implications of biodiversity accounting, and public sector organisations. In a similar vein, our research reveals a lack of comprehensive documentation on the existing studies that explore various factors influencing biodiversity accounting (practices and characteristics) across different countries. These factors encompass national biodiversity practices, biodiversity auditing and reporting procedures, the socioeconomic implications of biodiversity, and biodiversity legal, regulatory, and disclosure/reporting frameworks. Practical implications Thus, the outcomes of our comprehensive analysis will be highly relevant to research methods, scholars, accounting standard-setters, public and private sector role players, executives, professionals, lawmakers, regulators, researchers, and students alike. Social implications Considering that the whole idea of biodiversity is on sustainability in terms of conserving resources that are finite and should be used conservatively and wisely, with a view to long-term priorities and consequences of the ways in which resources are used. This study has implications for ecological, human, and economic health and vitality. We can view the human part as the social aspect of biodiversity. Originality/value This paper contributes a reproducible, evidence-grounded six-theme classification of biodiversity accounting studies (N = 122) and an integrative heuristic that links methodological innovations, disclosure practices and socioeconomic outcomes; thereby revealing both an empirical concentration on disclosure and an under-researched policy-relevant gap in public-sector and accountability-focused research.