Workshop on biodiversity management organised by the newly established regional DIHK/IHK Biodiversity Alliance of Thuringia
A practice-oriented and cost-free workshop for companies in Thuringia’s new regional biodiversity alliance took place in Erfurt on Monday. The main focus of the workshop was the integration of biodiversity in corporate strategies. Dr. Ulrike Eberle from corsus, led the workshop and emphasized that biodiversity, like any other sustainability topic, must be embedded in corporate management through specific goals, measures and measurable indicators. The workshop was organised by the DIHK Service GmbH and IHK Erfurt as part of the “Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt (UBI)” project.
The workshop on integrating biodiversity into corporate strategies was a key component of the Thuringia Biodiversity Alliance’s launch under the umbrella of the Thuringia Sustainability Agreement (NAT). After a formal welcome, networking session, and coffee break, all alliance participants gathered for the biodiversity management workshop led by corsus.
The workshop revealed that biodiversity management is not a rigid process, but rather a dynamic cycle that makes biodiversity strategies truly effective. The many participants were actively engaged, and the biodiversity bingo sparked laughter and amazement—especially when it came to identifying Lumbricus terrestris or guessing how many insect species are currently known.
In addition, Ulrike Eberle presented the management model demonstrating how biodiversity can be integrated into corporate management – from the analysis and target setting to defining and implementing measures, impact assessments and continuous improvement.
In this context, specific analytical tools such as the WWF Bio Risk Filter, the Ecoregion Map, a supplier questionnaire or the ENCORE Tool are particularly important. This is followed by a risk-based prioritisation of biodiversity throughout the supply chain and its systematic integration into risk management.
During the workshop, it was emphasised that corporations’ positioning on biodiversity and the resulting goals play a key role in the implementation process. Whether a corporation acts as a follower, hidden champion or champion is determined by its strategic positioning. Setting smart goals – specifically, goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely – helps to develop and implement concrete measures. Ultimately, continuous monitoring and evaluation are essential.
Dr Bernd Kalinowski from Stahlwerk Thuringia showcased the various measures implemented at their worksite. Particularly impressive was the staff’s active involvement in identifying issues and measures through a proposal system, allowing plenty of good ideas from within the company to be put into practice.
The workshop provided valuable insights, key takeaways and practical tools for systematically and strategically embedding biodiversity within corporations. Equipped with a dynamic cycle, clear recommendations for action and analytical tools, participants are now well-prepared to implement biodiversity management actively and sustainably. Clearly, biodiversity is not a cost factor, but a strategic competitive advantage.
A sincere thank you to all participants, organisers, and speakers for this inspiring exchange. We’re already looking forward to the upcoming training session in Hanover!
corsus supports you in the identification of opportunities and risks associated with biodiversity loss for your business activities, products and supply chains, and jointly develop strategies to address them.
Do you need support? Don’t hesitate to contact us – we’re happy to help!
The regional biodiversity alliances are initiated by the nationwide project ‘UBi – Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt’ (Companies for Biological Diversity), which is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. DIHK Service GmbH is the lead project partner and supports the implementation together with the regional chambers of industry and commerce.
