Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Business course

This training is aimed at business representatives and NGO representatives working with business and government officials who want to better understand WHAT mainstreaming biodiversity into business means, WHY we should mainstream, WHEN we should do it and more importantly HOW can we do it.

This training incorporates many of the training outcomes from the Business Ecosystems Training “Learn how to better manage your ecosystem impact and dependence” developed by the WBCSD (World Business Council on Sustainable Development). The training is designed specifically for a South African audience and it adopts a very practical learning approach based on the profile and background of the attendees.

The training will also provide a platform to facilitate future collaboration to support the mainstreaming of biodiversity into business.

The proposed programme for the workshop is the following:

08:00 Registration and Tea-coffee
8:30 to 9:00 Welcome and introduction
9:00 to 09:15 Background about biodiversity, ecosystems, natural capital, ecological infrastructure and the links with business: the rationale for mainstreaming in South Africa
09:15 to 10:15 Assessing business impacts, risks, opportunities dependencies related to biodiversity (including interactive session) : the business case for mainstreaming
10:15 to 10:30 The need to mainstream at different levels: strategic, managerial and operational
10:30 to 11:00 Tea
11:00 to 11:30 The need to mainstream at different levels: strategic, managerial and operational
11:30 to 12:30 Managing and mitigating business impacts on biodiversity - Overview of various tools to support mainstreaming
12:30 to 13:30 Lunch
13:30 to 15:30 Managing and mitigating business impacts on biodiversity - Overview of various tools to support mainstreaming
15:30 to 17:00 Practical exercise
17:00 to 17:15 Conclusion and way forward

The attendees will be provided with learning material and supporting information to assist them in the mainstreaming process after the workshop.

• A map and directions to the venue will be provided when you register.
• Please RSVP by 30 January 2014 by sending a confirmation email and completed registration form to Marie Parramon at mariep@ewt.org.za.
• Limited to 23 attendees