The 'Biodiversity in Good Company' Initiative has been able to extensively introduce itself in a soon-to-be published book publication in Japanese: "Business Approach to Biodiversity - Case Studies of Pilot Companies". The idea for this book came from the Japanese member companies at last year’s COP 10 in Nagoya. They conceptualised and carried out this project with great enthusiasm. Both experts and the general public can learn from the book, as it clearly explains why protecting biodiversity is so important, what businesses can specifically do to protect it, and how the 'Biodiversity in Good Company' Initiative is working as a platform to improve awareness for this issue in the business community. Readers can find information about the Initiative’s Leadership Declaration as well as the biodiversity management handbook.

The book’s cornerstone rests on the numerous examples taken directly from the member companies’ experiences with biodiversity management. Represented businesses from Japan: Aleph, Dentsu, Fujitsu, Kajima, Mitsui Sumitomo, Mori Building, Ricoh, Saraya, Sekisui House, and Sumitomo Trust. Additionally, the publication presents the current activities from Beraca, HeidelbergCement, Mars, oekom verlag, and Volkswagen.

The book (Japanese only) is being published by the Japanese publishing house Economic Legal Research Institute. Contact: Kazuo Kikuchi, Deputy General Manager, Editorial Department, +81-3-3267-4823, mailto: kikuchi@khk.co.jp

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How can biodiversity be protected in everyday agricultural routine? The organic show farm initiated by HiPP is an innovative way of analysing and demonstrating how it can be done.

Baby food producer HiPP is a pioneer in sustainable organic farming and is also active in the forefront of climate change and biodiversity. In addition to using renewable energy sources to establish carbon-neutral production (German Solar Award 2011), HiPP has also launched a special project aimed at protecting biodiversity: an organic show farm will serve as an appealing method of communicating the message that sustainability, soil fertility and protection of biodiversity can be achieved in everyday agricultural routine.  
For over 50 years, HiPP has stood for awareness in addressing the themes of humanity, nature and the environment.  Sustainable thought and action have a long tradition at HiPP, as demonstrated by the family-run company's top rating in a recent consumer study by "Wirtschaftswoche" on the topic of "Sustainability: Image".

The company is now involved in testing exemplary methods and environmental measures to improve biodiversity in a project at Ehrensberger Hof (Pfaffenhofen). The first step was to take stock the current situation: a team including members of Munich and Hanover Technical Universities recorded flora and fauna, various types of landscape, soil quality and data on the farm in general. A farm nature conservation plan was developed in collaboration with the leading German organic farmers' association Bioland, with the assistance of the German Society for the Protection of Birds (LBV).

To increase biodiversity and serve as a genetic reserve, a number of historical species were brought into the farm: original Braunvieh cattle, only around 500 of which are left in Bavaria, skudde sheep (currently 1000 animals in Germany) and a traditional species of chicken, the Appenzeller Spitzhauben. In addition, six swarms of bees were introduced in response to the dramatic rise in bee mortality. An 'insect hotel' and habitats for sand lizards were set up to counteract the lack of natural cover, and nesting-boxes were set up for owls, starlings, swallows, bats and many other animals and birds. New ecosystems were encouraged by planting hedges, bushes and flowering meadows, and unviable land was restored. Trainees and other members of staff at HiPP regularly take part in tree planting days and other environmental activities. These events promote environmental awareness and education and contribute to environmental protection. At the same time, fragmentation of the landscape by agricultural areas is mitigated and 'bridges' are established to link up the natural habitats of various species. All activities will now be mapped over a period of five years, evaluated and developed further.

Together with climate change, the extinction of fauna and flora and the destruction of ecosystems are crucial challenges facing humanity today. Nature is sending out an SOS, and increasingly irreparable holes are gaping in the network of life. HiPP views the prevention of these effects on biodiversity and the observance of sustainability as a special responsibility. What is at stake here is nothing less than the very basis of life itself - and with it, the future of our children on this earth.

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The black grouse is one of the most threatened bird species in the UK. UPM Tilhill is actively involved in a number of initiatives aimed at reversing the decline in their numbers by creating suitable habitats. These projects form part of the UPM global biodiversity programme.

One of the biggest success stories is a project based in Llandegla, North Wales, where 650 hectares of land owned and managed by UPM provide a home to the area’s most important remaining black grouse population. A count carried out in 2010 on Llandegla Moor and Ruabon Mountain recorded 117 male grouse, exceeding the target of 101 males set for the previous year and recorded in the national Biodiversity Action Plan. UPM Tilhill is playing a significant role in the Wales Black Grouse Recovery Project, designed to boost grouse numbers and is joined in its efforts by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), Countryside Council for Wales and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust. The project was launched in 1999 following an alarming decline in grouse numbers, which, if left unchecked, would have led to their extinction in 10 to 15 years.

Grouse prefer woodland edge habitats close to moorland.  John Gallacher, Forest Ecologist at UPM Tilhill says: "Feathering forest edges and ensuring that moorlands are preserved are some of the crucial things forest managers can do to make a difference." Commercial forest cycles include periods of harvesting and planting. "These are a great opportunity for planning ahead and designing the forests to suit black grouse", he explains. According to John, new forests are now carefully thought out in consultation with the relevant experts to ensure that they are different in terms of their species, age and structure.
Joint working is key to successful forest management. "You are much more likely to get a good outcome if you pool your knowledge, experience and other resources than if you go it alone." Training days are an excellent example of how cooperation can work well. Staff from UPM Tilhill has taken part in grouse training organised by the RSPB and found it extremely interesting and useful.

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The Lake Constance Foundation organized two regional forums in the region Ravensburg on the topic of "Business & Biodiversity". The aim was to explain the significance of biological diversity in regional companies and to inform about the possibilities of active lobbying for the protection of biodiversity.

The forums took place in Ravensburg in October 2010 and June 2011. Expert referees talked about the importance of biological diversity for companies and presented practicable instruments for its protection.  At the first regional forum in 2010 participating companies - mainly from the region Allgäu-Oberschwaben- presented their activities with regard to biodiversity. Topics ranged from raw material procurement over product design and marketing to nature-orientated design of a company’s premises. Patrick Trötschler from the Lake Constance Foundation informed the companies furthermore of how they can integrate biodiversity issues into their day-to-day business: Besides supporting projects which protect biodiversity (i.e. by bidding on a landscape-auction), businesses should identify their "core issues" regarding biodiversity. A great tool to start this assessment is the biodiversity-check, developed by the Lake-Constance-Foundation within the European Business and Biodiversity Campaign.  

The second forums theme was "Climate Protection, Innovation and Motivation through Biodiversity" and separated into three topics. Under the term climate protection were highlighted the synergies between a company’s activity for climate protection and the protection of biological diversity. Innovative was the idea of transforming the organizational principles of nature into company management. And heightened motivation of employees can be achieved by a nature-oriented design of a factory’s premises.

Although both forums diverged slightly in content the message of both was clear: there are numerous good reasons why a company should be interested in biological diversity – and a commitment is worth it! Both regional forums "Discover the biological diversity in your company" and "Climate protection, motivation and innovation through biodiversity" were organized by the Lake Constance Foundation and supported by the agency for the promotion of economic development of the administrative district Ravensburg (WiR) and the BUND-centre of nature conservation. The event was funded by PLENUM Allgäu-Oberschwaben and by EU-nature conservation program LIFE+ in the scope of the European Business & Biodiversity Campaign.

The documentation of the regional forums is now available here.
 
Contact: Patrick Trötschler
Phone: +49 (0)7732-9995-41
E-Mail: patrick.troetschler@bodensee-stiftung.org

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Small hydropower as barrier to fish migration, wind farms as danger to birds and the unexpected hazards for snakes. About fifty participants, mainly from the industry, joined on 3-4 November 2011 in Madrid to discuss how renewable energies and grid expansion can be reconciled with biodiversity conservation.

The workshop was organised by the Fundación Global Nature and Global Nature Fund together with Spanish energy giant Iberdrola as part of the European Business and Biodiversity Campaign. The workshop provided a first overview of the different aspects that come into play when biodiversity is considered in the renewable energy sector. The morning started with a general outlook by Catharina Sikow-Magny, DG Energy of the European Commission. This provided the European framework for the different topics that were discussed during the rest of the day. The EU has ambitious goals for 2020 and aims to increase the share of renewable energies to 20 %. To bridge the gap between production and consumption centres in Europe this will be necessarily be accompanied with a massive expansion of the grids. Both goals will not be achieved without environmental impacts.

Hydro, wind, and sun
The core of the workshop was formed by the break-out sessions, during which the participants were able to go into more detail on the dependence of the different energy sources (hydro, wind, solar) with biodiversity. During the hydropower session, it was discussed whether to build one large hydropower plant with an impact that is confined to one region or many small ones that proportionally have an even higher impact on biodiversity. It became clear that in any case, a decision for a hydro power plant means a compromise for nature. Even ecological measures, such as fish passes (if they work) can at the maximum mitigate the negative impacts. The dangers of not taking into account biodiversity concerns were highlighted during the wind session, where the example of the Whitelee wind farm in Scotland was discussed. In this case, the presence of threatened birds prevented the construction of the wind farm. It was only after adequate measures to protect the birds were taken in collaboration with the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), that the continuation of the project was ensured. Solar parks lead to the alteration of habitat as well, e.g. with the fencing of the area. Even as the sealed percentage of the site is relatively low changes in precipitation or solar irradiation result from the establishment of a ground-mounted solar park. Positive examples however exist as well; if brownfield sites are converted into solar parks even an enhancement of biodiversity can be achieved.

Expansion of the electricity grid
In the grid extension plans biodiversity conservation is playing an increasingly important role. Interesting examples were provided by Iberdrola which manages a large part of the grid in Spain. As for the other companies of the sector the death of birds is the main problem. When it comes to the associated risks it needs to be distinguished between high and medium voltage lines. For the high voltage spectrum the main issue is the collision of birds with the lines themselves. Many European companies have reacted and use different measures to increase the visibility of the lines through markings which are often installed by helicopter. For medium voltage the biggest danger is electrocution. This problem can be contained by the compliance with minimum distances between cables and the insulation of dangerous parts of the electricity poles. Nesting of stork on the poles is another problem for its operation that Iberdrola faces. 12 years ago the company started to address this issue and for example installed alternative nesting poles and was able to motivate the stork to “resettle”. The most astounding example of Iberdrola’s link with biodiversity however is the phenomenon that snakes climb the poles, confuse the insulators with birds, bite the lines and die from electrocution. This causes black-outs in about 20 % of all cases. Together with the University of Salamanca Iberdrola has therefore been conducting tests and will start to try the solutions in the field next year.

On the next day the workshop ended with a visit of one of Iberdrola’s wind farms close to Madrid and the Villacañas wetland, a reserve managed by the Fundación Global Nature. For an overview over the program and details on the presentations, please visit the Campaign's website here.

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