Protecting and promoting biodiversity is a priority at GIZ locations in Germany as well as an important aspect of the company’s advisory services.

As a federal enterprise, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports the German Government and other commissioning parties in achieving their objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. In 2008, GIZ therefore launched the Biodiversity in Good Company initiative on behalf of what is today the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and coordinated its initial phase. Now a corporate member, GIZ uses the initiative as a learning and dialogue platform as part of the continuous development of its activities in this area. GIZ places great emphasis on shaping biodiversity activities in its own corporate practice as well as in its advisory work with project partners.
 

Biodiversity in corporate environmental management

The most important levers for conserving biodiversity at corporate level are corporate environmental management, sustainable procurement and sustainable event management.

Locations themselves can help directly to conserve and promote species diversity. For example, there is an individual biodiversity concept for all new-builds. This ensures that outside areas and, where appropriate, roofs are planted with native species and that sealed surfaces are kept to a minimum. The efficient use of water, energy and paper and the avoidance of waste and emissions are further fundamental components of the company’s approach to environmental management. One of GIZ’s successes has been the huge commitment to biodiversity shown by staff at all major locations. Employees are, for example, undertaking urban gardening on company premises, joining beekeeping groups and designing outside areas to promote biodiversity.

The environmental impact of products is taken into account in the procurement process, and environmental sustainability is ensured by means of appropriate criteria, which are set out in the Sustainable Procurement Report. GIZ’s catering provision and company restaurants, too, are driving this issue forward on an ongoing basis, for example by prioritising use of a range of ingredients to ensure agrobiodiversity.

GIZ promotes sustainable event management within the company and applies international standards. In 2018, for example, the third edition of the Guide to Sustainable Event Management was published, and webinars were designed and run for the field structure. In addition, the first events with entirely vegetarian catering have taken place.
 

Promoting biodiversity in GIZ projects

GIZ’s biodiversity advisory services, which are based on the targets of the Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity, are aimed mainly at partners in developing and newly industrialising countries. GIZ is implementing more than 130 global, regional and bilateral biodiversity conservation projects in over 60 countries worldwide for a range of commissioning parties. Priority areas include promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity, development-oriented nature conservation, biodiversity and climate change, combating poaching, and environmental communication.