International Conference "Business and Biodiversity"

Venue:

2 + 3 April 2008

In the run-up to the 9th Conference of the Parties (COP9) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which will be held in May 2008 in Bonn with an expected number of over 5,000 attendees, the environmental foundation Global Nature Fund (GNF) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH organised a conference on  Business and Biodiversity on 2nd and 3rd April 2008 in Bonn. The question of how companies can contribute to realize the internationally recognized objective to slow down the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 and to successfully implement the Convention on Biological Diversity were major conference issues.

Please find a detailed Conference Documentation for download below.

2 April 2008: First Conference Day

Presentations and Discussion Forums

Biodiversity and Business in the German and the International Context

Registration and Conference Opening

Chair: Prof. Dr. Manfred Niekisch, Advisory Board, Global Nature Fund

Opening and Words of Welcome

Dr. Bernd Eisenblätter, Managing Director, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH

Marion Hammerl, President, Global Nature Fund

Helmut Joisten, Major, City Bonn

Introduction: Biodiversity and Business

The Implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy in Germany - Challenge for Politics and Business

Matthias Machnig, Vice-Minister, German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation und Nuclear Safety

Contributions of Enterprises and Business Associations to the Implementation of the UN-Convention on Biodiversity

Angelika Pohlenz, Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Section Germany

Biodiversity and Sustainability Management of Companies

Prof. Dr. Stefan Schaltegger, Centre for Sustainability Management, Leuphana University Lüneburg

The Value of Biological Diversity

Klaus Brunsmeier, Vice President, BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany)

Biological Diversity as a Business Opportunity - New Markets for Biological Diversity

Introduction: Frameworks and Mechanisms for New Markets for Biodiversity Products and Services

Ivo Mulder, Officer Market Development, Dutch Fund for Nature Development

Short Presentations und Discussion:

Bas Schneiders, CEO, Weleda AG

Peter Kowalsky, CEO, Bionade GmbH

Arnold van Kreveld, Head of Marketing and Sustainability, Precious Woods Europe

Biological Diversity as a Business Risk - Measures to Incorporate Biodiversity within Business Strategies

Risk Management and Biodiversity

Dr. Daniel Skambracks, Senior Environmental Advisor, Central Sustainability Unit, KfW Banking Group

Short Presentation and Discussion:

Jan Kees Vis, Sustainable Agriculture Director, Unilever

Javier Alvarez, Senior Project Manager, Living Earth Foundation

Discussion Forum (1)

Corporate Responsibility and Biodiversity: Perspectives of the Financial Sector

Chair: Johannes Beck, Deutsche Welle

Biological Diversity and the Financial Sector

Susan Steinhagen, Programme Manager, UNEP Finance Initiative

Rating Biodiversity?

Rolf D. Häßler, Director Business Development, oekom research AG

Biodiversity – Does it matter for Financial Reporting?

Joachim Ganse, Director Extra Financial Issues, Deloitte & Touche GmbH

Environmental Damage Act – New Challenges for Businesses in Nature and Biodiversity Conservation?

Jürgen Weichert, Senior Expert, CUO Liability, Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty AG

Discussion Forum (2)

Biofairness instead of Biopiracy - Examples of Companies Using Genetic Resources in Line with the Convention on Biological Diversity

Chair: Dr. Gudrun Henne, Viveka International

A New Era – The Requirements in the Convention on Biological Diversity to Using Genetic Resources

Dr. Andreas Drews, Coordinator of the "ABS Capacity Development Initiative for Africa", Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH

Charlotte d’Erceville, Program "Sustainable Development", Cognis France – Laboratoires Sérobiologiques

Prof. Dr. Frank Petersen, Executive Director Natural Products Unit, Novartis Pharma AG

Dr. Carsten Sjøholm, Science Manager, Novozymes A/S

Hans Turkensteen, Director, Health &  Performance Food International bv.

Francois Meienberg, Berne Declaration

Fernando Allegretti, Community Relation Manager, Natura

Discussion Forum (3)

Climate Mitigation and Biodiversity Conservation - How to Create Win-Win-Situations

Chair: Jörg Dürr-Pucher, CEO, Clean Energy GmbH

How can Carbon Compensation Measures of Companies Contribute to the Preservation of Biological Diversity?

Dr. Andrew Venter, Director, Wildlands Conservation Trust

Climate Change and Biodiversity in the Context of Development Cooperation

Dr. Konrad Uebelhör, Coordinator, Program Implementing the Biodiversity Convention, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH

Biofuels - the Perspective of an Automobile Manufacturer

Dr. Ing. Martin Lohrmann, Project Manager, Group Research, Fuels, VOLKSWAGEN AG

Bioenergy - Perspectives of Environmental Organisations

Jürgen Maier, Executive Director, German NGO Forum for Environment and Development

3rd April 2008: Second Conference Day

Expert Talk

Integration of Biological Diversity into Business Policy: Guidelines, Expertises and Outlook

Business and Biodiversity Initiatives Worldwide

Chair: Dr. Frank Wätzold, BTU Cottbus / Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ

Germany’s "Business and Biodiversity Initiative"

Edgar Endrukaitis, Coordinator Business and Biodiversity Initiative of the BMU, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH

The European "Business and Biodiversity Initiative"

Dr. András Demeter, Nature Conservation Policy Officer, Unit Nature Protection and Biodiversity, DG Environment, European Commission

The NABU Business-Initiative

Claus Mayr, Director of European Affairs, NABU (Birdlife Germany)

Certification, Business and Conservation - Experiences of WWF

Dr. Bernhard Bauske, Director, Business and Industry Relations, WWF Germany

How to Successfully Implement Biodiversity Management in Businesses?

Thematic Block 1: Analysis and Evaluation of Impacts on Biodiversity

Ecological Capacity and Economic Performance: Biodiversity and Business Applications of the Ecological Footprint

Dr. Mathis Wackernagel, Executive Director, Global Footprint Network

The Corporate Ecosystem Services Review - ESR: Identifying Business Risks and Opportunities Arising from Ecosystem Change

Mikkel Kallesoe, Program Manager Ecosystems, World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Peter Gardiner, Natural Resources Manager, Mondi Group

John Finisdore, Business & Ecosystems Research, World Resources Institute

Thematic Block 2: Indicators, Aims and Reporting

Establishing Sustainable Development Indicators for Integrated Raw Material and Nature Conservation Management

Dr. Michael Rademacher, Team Leader Recultivation and Nature Protection, HeidelbergCement AG

Global Reporting Initiative and Biodiversity

Maaike Fleur, Project Manager Sector Supplements, Global Reporting Initiative

Thematic Block 3: Integrating Biodiversity into the Supply Chain and Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues

Safeguarding Biodiversity through Tracing the Origin of Wood

Robert Taylor, Director Environmental Forestry, UPM-Kymmene

Olaf Dechow, Environmental Officer, OTTO GmbH & Co. KG

Florian Nehm, Sustainability Officer, Axel Springer AG

Protecting Biodiversity - with Community Involvement

George Jaksch, Senior Director, Corporate Responsibility and Public Affairs, Chiquita International S.G.

Moving Forward from the Conference - Panel Discussion

Chair: Judith Hartl, Deutsche Welle

Martin Oldeland, Board Member, German Environmental Management Association (B.A.U.M. e.V.)

Dr. Manfred Konukiewitz, Deputy Director General, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Christine von Weizsäcker, President, Ecoropa

Uwe Brendle, Head of Department, German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation

Dr. Naoki Adachi, Secretary General, Japan Business Initiative for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity (JBIB)

Organisers:

Global Nature Fund (GNF) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH

Conference Partners:

• Clean Energy
• Dokeo GmbH

Sponsors of the Conference:

• Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) with financial support of the Federal Ministry for Environment in Germany (BMU)
• German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
• Stiftung Internationale Begegnung Sparkasse Bonn

Additional Information:

Please find more information about "Business & Biodiversity" available for download at the page Background Information.

Germany’s Business and Biodiversity Initiative

www.bmu.de/english/nature/downloads/doc/40635.php