Launch Event workshop for Global project on Private Business Action for Bio-diversity: “Fostering role of Business in Biodiversity Conservation”

12 Jun, 2018

Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on 12th June 2018 at Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi launched the new global project under Indo- German Biodiversity programme i.e. Private Business Action for Biodiversity. National Biodiversity Authority is the nodal agency for the project in India.

The ‘Private Business Action for Biodiversity’ (PBAB) project pursues to identify and analyse promising mechanisms and instruments for promoting biodiversity friendly production and commercialization and to test pilot approaches in three partner countries – India, Brazil and Mexico. In India, the project will test instruments and mechanisms that promote biodiversity-friendly production and commercialization especially in spice supply chain in Western Ghats.

The event launch was represented by a large number of stakeholders extending from Government, Private sector as well as Non-governmental organizations.

Mr T. Rabi Kumar, Secretary, National Biodiversity Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in his keynote address emphasized the role of businesses for combating the causes of biodiversity loss. He mentioned that on the one hand, the services provided by nature are at the basis of many economic processes. On the other hand, economic activity alters biodiversity and ecosystems – and often degrades them. A promising approach is to promote biodiversity-friendly production and commercialization.

Dr Nirmal Babu, Director, Indian Institute of Spice Research explained the environmental challenges in spice production. Mr Prakash Namboodiri, Chairman, All India Spice Export Association provided overview on the growth of spice market and addressed the issues that the spice industry is facing and the way forward to link with the biodiversity.

The event was represented by the members of Indian Business and Biodiversity Initiative: Mr Sandeep Shrivastava- Head- Sustainability and Environment, Ambuja Cements Ltd., Mr Suneel Pandey, Vice President ITC Ltd., Dr S. Majumdar, Chief Sustainability Officer, JSW Group and Mr Pankaj Satija, GM(O) Tata Steel. They shared their experiences while dealing with biodiversity in their sectors. The session on Biodiversity- Friendly Production its challenges and case studies was represented by Dr Manish Pande- Joint Director, Quality Council Of India, Mr Harkirat Sindhu-Rainforest Alliance, Dr Thomas J- Director, PDS organic spices and Mr Sundeep Kamath, Secretary, Biodynamics Association.