Ladies and Gentlemen,
While the end of 2014 is already approaching fast, there are many activities going on this autumn as regards business and biodiversity. On 17 November, we enjoyed an inspiring exchange of experience with other companies at our conference "On the doorstep and beyond the horizon: Companies addressing the challenges of biodiversity", which was hosted by the retail company Otto Group in Hamburg. Special guest: Secretary of State Jochen Flasbarth from the Federal Environment Ministry.
In October, the 194 Parties to the CBD negotiated for several weeks in Korea during their 12th meeting. We participated in the three-day "Business Forum" and presented activities of our network in a side event. And finally, last week the EU Business @ Biodiversity Platform gathered for its annual meeting in Brussels. Hopefully meeting, talking and networking moves us all forward!
This is actually the first newsletter after a technical and aesthetic redesign. It should now be fit for purpose to be readable on mobile smart devices – eagle-eyed readers do not even have to zoom the display. In this newsletter issue, you can learn more about our member company Faber-Castell. We are proud to have this family-run business in our network!
Yours sincerely,
'Biodiversity in Good Company' Initiative
| |
|---|
|
|
BIODIVERSITY ... IN THE FORESTS OF FABER-CASTELL
| |
|---|
|
|
"It is a matter of great importance to me, not to economise at the expense of my successors as well as to use raw materials, which do not account for any harm of humans or nature. For myself, as an entrepreneur, it is self-evident to earn money in a decent manner. The integrity, based on values such as social and ecological responsibility, reliance, honesty and fair interaction amongst one another, can by all means be combined with a healthy striving for long-term profitability."
|
|---|
|
Anton-Wolfgang Graf von Faber-Castell, CEO of Faber-Castell AG
|
|---|
|
|
White Woodpecker (Melanerpes candidus), Photo: Celso de Freitas Parruco
Peach-fronted Conure (Aratinga aurea), Photo: Celso de Freitas Parruco
White-eared Puffbird (Nystalus chacuru), Photo: Celso de Freitas Parruco
|
|---|
|
The project 'Animalis' in the Brazilian forests
| |
|---|
|
In the 1980s Faber-Castell started a unique afforestration project in Prata, in the state of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil. 10,000 hectares of forest in Brazil are not only used for supplying wood, rather they help to protect the diversity of species as well as local ecosystems. In cooperation with Brazilian universities the project 'Animalis' emerged, which engages with the occurrence and development of animal and plant-species within the Faber-Castell forest plantations. Since 1992, inventory measures are conducted through the analysis of animal sightings, footprints and droppings.
Today 61 mammalian, 232 avian species, and 55 different kinds of reptiles and amphibians have made their homes in the parts of the forests that Faber-Castell leaves in their natural state. According to recent insights, 13 of the 512 species recorded are threatened with extinction.
|
|---|
|
|
Sustainable afforestation in Colombia
| |
|---|
|
Faber-Castell also makes an important contribution to sustainable forestry close to Rio Magdalena in rural Northern Colombia. Since the early 20th century, this region has been marked by excessive agricultural use, systematic deforestation as well as overgrazing. In 2009 Faber-Castell became part of this project in order to further mobilize wood resources from sustainably managed forests. In cooperation with small-scale farmers almost 2,000 hectares (this is similar to ca. 3,800 football pitches) of forests were planted on former wasteland for the pencil production. Hereby, the tree plantations are protecting the shore against silting, ensure higher soil fertility and foster expansion of native biodiversity due to their micro-climate. Overlapping areas are especially rich in species resulting in the so called "edge effect". Furthermore, the farmer can use the area of his land which is not reserved for afforestation for private livestock farming.
| |
|---|
|
|
Faber-Castell – carbon neutral company
| |
|---|
|
A scientific study conducted through TÜV Rheinland® in 2012 confirms, that the Faber-Castell forest plantations in Prata (Brazil) are absorbing more than 900,000 tonnes of CO2.
| |
|---|
|
|
|
Therefore, the forest is able to fix more CO2 as the company is emitting every year, worldwide.
|
|---|
|
|
Unlike most companies, which only have a positive climate balance by buying emission certificates, Faber-Castell can be described completely carbon neutral.
| |
|---|
|
|
Gisbert Braun, Head of Corporate Quality and Sustainability
|
|---|
|
Contact and further information
| |
|---|
|
"Forests are home to around two third of all described animal and plant species living on this planet. The protection of these species-riche habitats as well as the long term availability of sustainable grown resources is a strategically important objective of Faber-Castell and one of the biggest future challenges of our generation."
For more information, please have a look on www.faber-castell.com or contact Gisbert Braun, Head of Corporate Quality & Sustainability.
|
|---|
|
|
+++ BIODIVERSITY PIECES +++
| |
|---|
|
|
Speech of Secretary of State Jochen Flasbarth
| |
|---|
|
Hamburg/Berlin, 17 November 2014 – More than 100 company representatives from various sectors accepted our invitation to join an exchange of knowledge and experience at our conference in Hamburg on 17 November. The event (German only) "On the doorstep and beyond the horizon: Companies addressing the challenges of biodiversity" was hosted by the retail company Otto Group. Special guest: Secretary of State Jochen Flasbarth from the Federal Environment Ministry. Appealing keynote statements, interesting practical examples and a lively discussion made the event a success.
The press release is available in German only.
|
|---|
|
|
|
On the occasion of CBD-COP 12 in Korea last October, the CBD Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity held its fourth meeting. Germany was appointed a member of the new Executive Committee and is represented by our initiative in combination with interested participants of the German "Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt 2020" platform.
|
|---|
|
|
|
"Biodiversity for Sustainable Development" was the motto of the 12th Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), taking place on 6-17 October in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea. We participated in the conference with a number of member companies, i. e. Aleph, Beraca, Fujitsu, GIZ, Saraya und Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank. You may have a look at our brief documentation of activities!
|
|---|
|
|
|
Brussels, 21 November 2014 – About 120 participants joined the Annual Conference of the EU Business @ Biodiversity Platform on 21 November in Brussels. In his opening speech, the new European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, appreciated the existence and work of the platform. 'Biodiversity in Good Company' is a member of the network.
|
|---|
|
|
|
On 11 November, UPM was announced as the sector leader for the materials industry in CDP’s 2014 global forests report "Deforestation-free supply chains: from commitments to action". UPM received the sector leader position for the second year in a row.
|
|---|
|
|
|
Project "Biodiversity Criteria in Standards and Quality Labels for the Food Industry" publishes recommendations
| |
|---|
|
The food producing and processing industries have significant impacts on biodiversity. Standards and quality labels can help move the market in the right direction. The Global Nature Fund and the Lake Constance Foundation, supported by REWE Group, examined 19 standards and labels and have now published recommendations for their improvement as regards biodiversity protection.
Download of the recommendations
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
