09-06-2010

The IUCN Regional Office for Pan-Europe with PricewaterhouseCoopers, European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC), European Landowners’ Organization (ELO) and Blue4You – on behalf of the European Commission – will establish and make operational the European Business and Biodiversity Platform (B@B platform).

Following the work already performed in some countries, the European B@B initiative, will be the first initiative of this magnitude worldwide. Once again, Europe has a chance to be the leader in setting the scene for the rest of the world to follow.

The B@B platform aims to support all businesses integrating biodiversity into their core activities. The six following sectors have been prioritized by the European Commission for the first year (2010): agriculture, food supply industry, forestry, extractive industries, financial sector and tourism.

The B@B Platform will facilitate information and knowledge exchange among different actors, will host a resource centre, provide links to information available on the topic and outline existing best practices. It will also liaise with other related on going Business and Biodiversity initiatives.

If you wish to join the European B@B Platform, please forward your details: Company, Industry sector, Address, name, position, telephone and fax to ecbb@iucn.org 

08-06-2010

With its 22,000 sites across Europe, the Aggregates Industry is uniquely placed to make a significant positive contribution to the process of halting the loss of biodiversity. Our Biodiversity Case Studies database demonstrates the sector’s commitment to the Biodiversity Action Plan of the European Commission to protect and restore biological systems.

Click on the image to open the database.

07-06-2010

The UEPG Sustainable Development Awards have been presented at a special ceremony in the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski in Munich on the evening of Thursday May 27, 2010. As 2010 is the UN International Year of Biodiversity, UEPG has created a new UEPG Biodiversity Award category. This is in addition to the traditional award categories of Economic Contribution to Society, Environmental Best Practice, Health & Safety Best Practice, Local Community Partnership, Operational Best Practice and Restoration Best Practice.

Immediately afterwards an illustrated brochure has been released showcasing all the outstanding contributions of aggregates producing companies. The brochure is available here.