Heinen-Esser: Companies need intact ecosystems
A new biodiversity management handbook for companies was presented by parliamentary state secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry, Ursula Heinen-Esser, at an international business conference in Nuremberg today. "Private sector companies play an important part in conserving our natural foundations of life. Companies influence ecosystems and their services, but in turn often directly rely on them. Economy and ecology do not oppose each other, they are mutually dependent," said Ms Heinen-Esser.
Since 2008 the Federal Environment Ministry has supported the international initiative "Biodiversity in Good Company", in which model companies pledge to take biodiversity aspects into consideration in their management decisions and processes. The experience gained by these companies is now drawn together in a handbook which aims to inspire other companies to take action for biodiversity.
Using many examples, the Corporate Biodiversity Handbook gives companies a clear picture of the importance of biological diversity for business. It also shows what companies can do to actively supportthe conservation of biodiversity in practice. The handbook is available in German and English.
The new Corporate Biodiversity Handbook was publicly presented by Ursula Heinen-Esser for the first time at the international business conference "SusCon" (Sustainable Business and Consumption). The Conference is taking place on 15 and 16 June in the Nuremberg trade fair centre. The importance of biodiversity for business is the main theme of this year's conference.