Biodiversity
Biodiversity - understanding and valuing natural capital
50% of global GDP (USD 50 trillion) is threatened by the loss of biodiversity and the destabilisation of natural ecosystems. Almost all businesses rely, to varying degrees, on natural resources and functioning ecosystem services for their production.
At the same time, our economies continue to damage the natural world. However, the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted by the UN in December 2022 marks a turning point in this negative trend.
With the support of the private sector and financial institutions, it aims to mobilise forces and resources to halt and reverse the loss of species and ecosystems by 2030.
Businesses will be included as part of the solution by being expected to measure their biodiversity footprint in a similar way to CO2 emissions in order to develop targeted conservation measures.
Every value chain depends to varying degrees on ecosystem services, such as water supply or climate stabilisation. AFRY assesses your impacts and dependencies on nature and helps you integrate sustainable biodiversity strategies.
Biodiversity as a business opportunity
Biodiversity loss affects companies in different ways, depending on their individual risk profile and dependence on nature.
For example, soil degradation and climate instability can have a significant impact on the reliability of agricultural supply chains, while the disruption of a river can affect the efficiency of hydroelectric power plants. In addition, a wide range of operations are directly threatened by the loss of forest cover, which provides protection against erosion.
AFRY prepares companies for the implementation and regulatory adaptation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Developing forward-looking biodiversity policies and management strategies not only save costs and natural resources, but also significantly improve the perception of your company by consumers, customers and employees.
The goal of becoming 'nature positive' is more than just an approach to sustainability. It is a promise to nature to act responsibly.
Our biodiversity services
- Capacity Building
- Screening of biodiversity risks at sector level and in supply chains
- Site-Specific Analyses and Assessments
- Action plans and strategies
- Nature-based Solutions and environmental planning
- Biodiversity Due Diligence
- Natural capital accounting
- Database development and data management
- Reporting
- Online webinars and workshops in various formats to introduce biodiversity issues
- Introduction to regulations and data requirements for company-wide biodiversity management
- Sectoral materiality assessment of the impacts and dependencies on nature of the company's direct activities and along its value chain.
- Use of modern methodologies such as SBTN, TNFD and IUCN
- Use of internationally recognised tools such as IBAT and ENCORE
- Introduction to 'spatially explicit data management' required for biodiversity assessment
- Evaluation of ESG and biodiversity indicators at site level
- Prioritising and defining concrete steps and strategic measures to protect biodiversity
- Breakdown of business processes to integrate effective biodiversity management
- Defining measurable indicators
- Adapting to and aligning with evolving reporting requirements (EU Taxonomy, CSRD, ESRS, GRI, Ecovadis, etc.)
- Development of measures to ensure sustainable management of natural capital
- Pursue of the promotion of social benefits and economic well-being
- Development of concrete renaturation and restoration measures
- Impact assessment
- Wildlife mapping and environmental planning
- Impact planning according to international standards such as IFC PS6
- Transaction assessment with a special focus on biodiversity
- Use of advanced tools such as ENCORE and IBAT
- Calculation of total stocks and flows of natural resources and ecosystem services
- Adapting companywide ESG data management to the needs of site-specific biodiversity analysis
- Development of GIS and spatial databases for data storage, analysis, and effective reporting
Preparation and monitoring of extended reporting requirements: EU Taxonomy, SBTN, TNFD, EU Supply Chain Due Diligence, CSRD and more.
