The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) released a new guide that aims to expand business understanding and use of biodiversity information to help manage their environmental impact.

IUCN and partners are developing a series of ‘knowledge products’ which are platforms of knowledge that include assessments of authoritative biodiversity information supported by standards, guidelines, data, tools and training.

Biodiversity for Business – A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN  is specifically targeted at companies to help them better understand and use knowledge products to assess environmental risks and opportunities in their operations. The guide aims to show how knowledge products can help assess, value, manage and report on business impact and dependency on biodiversity and to help  comply with environmental standards and certification schemes.

“It is important for IUCN to demonstrate what kind of knowledge is out there and how it can be used by companies as an input to their decision-making,” said Giulia Carbone, Deputy Director, IUCN Global Business and Biodiversity Programme.

“We wanted to ensure that this knowledge is not only used by the NGO community, but also by companies, since it is critical in assessing and managing risks and opportunities.”

The guide, developed by the IUCN in close collaboration with the WBCSD and its member companies, focuses on four knowledge products:

• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM, which assesses the risk of  species  becoming extinct;
• Protected Planet (powered by the World Database on Protected Areas), which documents the extent, quality and diversity of protected areas;
• Key Biodiversity Areas, which identifies areas of global significance for biodiversity;
• The Red List of Ecosystems, which assesses the risk of ecosystem collapse.

“This guide has been developed for business and sustainability managers and environmental consultants to increase their understanding of which biodiversity knowledge products are available for use and how they can be deployed across companies to improve management of natural capital,” said Violaine Berger, Director, Ecosystems & Agriculture at WBCSD.

“It nicely complements the WBCSD’s Eco4Biz Guide, which provides a structured overview of existing ecosystem services and biodiversity tools and approaches to support business decision-making.”

After decades of working together, the WBCSD became a member of IUCN in 2013. This was a milestone in terms of enhanced collaboration and business engagement, allowing for scaled-up solutions to better achieve IUCN’s vision: a just world that values and conserves nature.

More information on IUCN’s Business and Biodiversity Programme

More information on WBCSD’s work programme on Ecosystems

Biodiversity for Business- A guide to using knowledge products delivered through IUCN

Leading companies are aware that “business as usual” has not an option in the longer term. Investors and customers want companies to address social and environmental concerns. Businesses recognize that developing strategies to meet these needs would also contribute to their sustainability and competitiveness. At the same time, many professional NGOs see that they can achieve widespread and long lasting change by harnessing this power of the market. In order to be more effective, companies and NGOs are finding ways to work together. These partnerships, if designed and executed properly, can achieve remarkable business and environmental results—and inspire the next generation for successful cooperation.

Gaining Profit while Conserving Nature: Guidelines for cooperation of businesses and NGOs in the Visegrad countries developed throughout multi-stakeholder consultations aims to enhance business – NGO partnerships through analyzing their complexity, spreading well-working case studies as well as providing practical tips for implementation.

Download the Guideline here.

Read more: http://www.ceeweb.org/about-us/cooperation-with-business/

The Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH) and Swisscham Hungary cordially invite you to the next event of „Business Breakfasts for Sustainable Development” series.

The event will be opened by His Excellency Jean-Francois Paroz, Swiss Ambassador to Hungary

Our guest speaker is Mr. Michael Nixon, Executive Director, Nestlé Hungary

Date: Tuesday, 18 February 2014, 9:00-10:30 (registration, arrival from 8:30)

Venue: Hotel Novotel Budapest City (1123 Budapest, Alkotás u. 63-67)

Language: The language of the event is English without translation.

Registration

Participation is free of charge for BCSDH member companies.

For non-members:  10 000 HUF / person (VAT free).

To guarantee your seat, register by 13 February via e-mail at Katalin Parragi, katalin.parragi@bcsdh.hu, please mark name and position of the participant and the company’s billing address.

If oversubscribed, members of BCSDH and Swisscham Hungary will be given preference.

Written cancellations are accepted by 13 February, 12:00. Late cancellations or “no-shows” will be charged.

Parking: Parking spaces are provided. Parking fee: 400 HUF / hour.

Download the invitation here: Invitation_Business_breakfast_18_February_2014