The conference was successfully brought to a close this October 2010 as 193 member states were able to agree upon financing options for an access and benefits sharing (ABS) target programme. This is a positive signal leading up to the climate negotiations in Cancun this December that the world’s countries are able to work together even after the failed Copenhagen conference.

The ‘Biodiversity in Good Company’ Initiative’s 50 square metre booth, at the conference’s fair, showcased the activities and efforts of our member companies to experts and the general public from around the world. Our touring exhibition “Without Biological Diversity, No Economic Diversity”, in the English and Japanese versions, was on also on display. Visitors to our stand could not only get first hand, in-depth information about the Initiative, but they were also able to take home the handbook, fact book and USB sticks with comprehensive information about the Initiative and its members.

The Initiative experienced wide interest with its two side events and a public forum.

At the forum, organised by the Japanese member companies, Introduction of case studies by Japanese signatory companies to the Leadership Declaration of the Business and Biodiversity Initiative ‘Biodiversity in Good Company’ (in Japanese), Michiko Uchiyama presented the Initiative and the Leadership Declaration. Member companies depicted their actions in biodiversity management by giving examples from their endeavours.  This was an excellent illustration of how businesses can implement biodiversity into their management systems and meet the goals set in the Leadership Declaration.

At the side event Corporate Biodiversity Management - Practicality Meets Biodiversity the Initiative’s coordinator, Edgar Endrukaitis, presented the Corporate Biodiversity Management Handbook. Followed by practical examples from the handbook explained by the members Aleph, Centro Flora, Fujitsu, UPM and Weleda.You can see a video from part of the side event with this link:

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At the side event Business meets Biodiversity - Doing Business the Biodiverse Way, Judith Winterstein gave an overview of the Initiative and its Leadership Declaration. Representatives from member companies SARAYA, Sumitomo Trust, Beraca, Natura, Volkswagen and Mars informed the audience of their activities to embed the practical goals of protecting biodiversity into their corporate practices.

It was apparent at the conference that the Business and Biodiversity Initiative ‘Biodiversity in Good Company’ is playing a leading role in bringing biodiversity protection to the corporate world. The Initiative is standing as an example for other national initiatives currently in the beginning stages. Canada has directly adapted its efforts in this area by taking over our leadership declaration for its own use. Additionally the Initiative was able to contribute to the international discussion on biodiversity with its biodiversity management handbook offering a business approach and practical examples.