Detailed Checklist 1 A - Employee knowledge about biodiversity / the link between business and biodiversity

Introduction
Based on the biodiversity quick check, you see an area where knowledge about corporate activities and biodiversity could have an impact on your employees and their understanding of your company’s impact on biodiversity. The following checklists provide input and tips to help you on your way.
C 1 A–1 Formal personnel training about the link between corporate activities and biological diversity
Consider appointing one or more “Biodiversity Managers” from your company (depending on the size of your company, where appropriate appointing employees at your different locations and in various departments). These managers should participate in regular advanced education courses related to biodiversity.

Applicable / Feasible?

Despite the existing need, there are currently few official or specific educational training courses on offer about Business and Biodiversity. Actively seek out and/or create your own training courses, for example for your industry or your region.

Applicable / Feasible?

Use the knowledge from expert nature conservation organisations and associations about biodiversity for your employees. Together with them organise continuous education events such as trainings or working groups. Offer information and your knowledge on the subject through management workshops for the organisation employees in exchange for biodiversity training for your personnel. (See also Checklist 1-1 and Checklist 1-2)

Applicable / Feasible?

Network with organisations that offer trainings or workgroups. Examples of this are ecological business consultancies, university and private research institutions, international organisations or state ministries, such as the ministry for environment.

Applicable / Feasible?

Consider including participants from various businesses that you work closely with and would improve your value chain for trainings, seminars and similar activities. Through such capacity building project, your employees in all fields can work on and learn about biodiversity.

Applicable / Feasible?

Network with others to carry out trainings and seminars also with other businesses in close proximity to your location. Through cooperation in the field of biodiversity participants and businesses can develop synergy effects and potentially save on costs.

Applicable / Feasible?

C 1 A–2 Additional education on Biodiversity
Get information (or rather your Biodiversity Manager should get information) on the Endangered Species Lists (for animals, plants, biotopes, etc.) as well as information about nature protection policies. Among the various policies, it is important to know about the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Find out if your business influences the species listed in these policies. Consult with expert organisations in this area to aid your evaluation process.

Applicable / Feasible?

Provide “biodiversity-fair” training for your employees. Use the help of expert organisations if need be as well. Develop concepts on how employees from the various fields in your company can account for biodiversity in their daily activities and tasks.

Applicable / Feasible?

Expand your employee suggestion scheme to include the area of biodiversity. This should ensure that employees can recommend biodiversity-friendly purchases or project participation.

Applicable / Feasibles?

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Helpful Links and Organisations for Detailed Checklist C 1-A

www.bfn.de

The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz, BfN) provides a number of guides, brochures and other information about nature conservation on its website.  You will also find the current endangered species lists for plants, animals and biotopes.

www.biodiversityeconomics.org

Biodiversityeconomics.org is an initiative of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), which is coordinated together with WWF.  The information and action network tries to advance the economic-based approaches of environmental protection and supports businesses that are engaged in preserving biodiversity and sustainability practices.

www.bmu.de

On the website for the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) you will find legal information about nature conservation. You will also find up-to-date information on German laws and European policy about biodiversity.

www.cites.org

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) functions equally as an agreement and an international organisation. Its goal is to control international trade to a degree that ensures the survival of wild plants and animals.

www.umweltdatenbank.de

The Data Base for the Environment (Umweltdatenbank) provides an overview of the businesses and activities in Germany (D), Austria (A) and Switzerland (CH) dealing with the environment. It can be used as a starting point for educational purposes. (In German only)

www.unglobalcompact.org

The UN Global Compact is a network made up of UN agencies, governments, businesses and employees, and civil society organisations. It should bring together private industry representatives with UN institutions, employees and civil society to support universal environmental principles.

How the Checklists work

With the checklists' various fields of action you will be able to assess your company's situation.  For each field of action, there is a quick check along with multiple other detailed checklists.  Fill in the relevant checklists one after the other.  At the end you can print out and send or email us the completed questionnaire.

Note:

The entries are meant to aid you in your self-evaluation and will not be saved or used by us or any other third party organisation.

 

 

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