The Business and Biodiversity Initiative is developing a handbook for corporate biodiversity management in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Stefan Schaltegger from the Centre for Sustainable Management (CSM) at the University of Luneburg. The handbook analyses companies' influence on biodiversity and offers specific steps towards the conservation of biodiversity. The methodology makes the handbook applicable to businesses in all branches.

Rather place a large emphasis on arguments based on ethics or natural science, the handbook follows the logic and reasoning of economics.

Following a business systematic, seven areas of action applicable to every company are identified: locations and property, supply chain, raw and basic materials, product (design), production and manufacturing processes, transport and logistics, and human resources.

For every area of action the effects on biodiversity are analysed.  This may be, for example, the floor space required for buildings, the way fields are cultivated, or the use of raw materials.

The areas of activity are then connected with economic indicators.  These are the economic drivers of ecologically sound measures, and include, for example, cost reductions, revenue increases, risk management, reputation improvements, or the development of new, sustainable business models. Costs can be saved through the reduction of energy and resource use; revenue increased through biodiversity related product differentiation; risks mitigated through the sustainable supply of raw materials; a new corporate philosophy and new products can increase both reputation and brand value; and new business models, such as eco-tourism, can be used.

The handbook is about connecting the conservation of biological diversity with companies' economic goals.

The handbook offers several useful summaries, tables, and practical examples complimented by check-lists for a quick overview and an easy start. An easier and more practically oriented start to corporate biodiversity management would be hard to find.

• Publisher: Business and Biodiversity Initiative
• Authors: Prof. Dr. Stefan Schaltegger and Uwe Beständig (CSM)
• Date of publication (online and print version): Early 2010

Contact Person: Ms Elena Brandes (elena.brandes@gtz.de or +49 (0)30 726 14 496)

return to top

What does overfishing have to do with unemployment? How did a type of rice prevent a starvation catastrophe? How does the poison in a sea snail alleviate pain?

Several questions, one answer: the biological diversity shown in the Business and Biodiversity Initiative's exhibition. With the interactive multi-touch session desk, visitors can explore nature's uniqueness around the world - from the distinct fynbos flowers in South Africa, to the beech forests of the Shiriakami highlands in Japan, to the mountain gorillas of the Congo rainforests. The interrelation between these unique regions and ecosystems, us, as people, and our economy will all be explained. In addition to learning about nature, visitors can intuitively use the session desk's touch screen to follow the commitment, activities, and projects of the B&B member companies.

In addition to the session desk, 18 attractive columns explain in easy to understand terms what biological diversity is, how people depend on it, why biodiversity is threatened, and what businesses can contribute to its conservation. Our 14 tips on "what can I do for biological diversity?" will also be available for visitors to take with them on small, pocket-sized cards.

The exhibition will be at the Federal Chancellor's kick-off event for the UN's proclaimed International Year of Biodiversity 2010, in Berlin. After that the exhibition will travel throughout Germany. Host companies will include Bionade, Der Grüne Punkt, HeidelbergCement, Mars, Otto, SolarWorld, Tui, UPM, Volkswagen, Weleda, KfW, RitterSport, and Werner & Mertz. An exhibition will begin a tour of Japan simultaneously, before arriving in time for the October 2010 CBD-Conference of the Parties, in Nagoya.

An exact tour plan, including an online version of the exhibition will be available on our website shortly.

Contact person: Mr Lukas Rüttinger (lukas.ruettinger@gtz.de or +49 (0)30 72614 206)

return to top

The World Ocean Council (WOC) brings together the diverse ocean business community to create a cross-sectoral leadership alliance on ocean sustainability.

With the expanding use of marine areas by a growing variety of commercial interests there are increasingly complex risks from environmental impacts and conflicts in the use of marine resources. As the primary ocean user, the private sector is best placed to develop and implement solutions to ensure marine ecosystem use is sustainable - in ways that also work well for business.

The best efforts by a single company or whole industry sector will not be able to address the cumulative environmental impacts and user conflicts across the wide range of ocean industries. The WOC is catalysing multi-sectoral industry leadership and collaboration by bringing together oil and gas, fisheries, aquaculture, mining, tourism, offshore renewable energy, and other ocean users. Industry working groups are being formed on priority issues, such as: marine spatial planning, the Arctic Ocean, ocean noise, marine invasives, marine mammal impacts, and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The WOC works to generate industry support for improved ocean science, especially regarding climate change, constructively engage industry in ocean policy processes, reduce user conflicts among ocean industry sectors, and improve understanding among the public, media and NGOs of the positive environmental efforts and results of responsible ocean companies.There is solid interest from a range of companies and associations in participating in cross-sectoral efforts to address the marine environmental challenges facing the private sector. The “Sustainable Ocean Summit” (Belfast, 15-17 June 2010) is an unprecedented gathering of the ocean business community to develop address shared ocean issues and develop WOC programs.

For more information see www.oceancouncil.org or contact paul.holthus@oceancouncil.org

Paul Holthus, Executive Director, World Ocean Council

return to top