Business play an important role in protecting biodiversity and halting the loss of ecosystems, species and genetic diversity.
The “Private Business Action for Biodiversity” project peruses to test promising instruments and mechanisms for the promotion of biodiversity-friendly production and commercialization in agricultural production systems in Brazil, India and Mexico. In India, the spotlight is on spice cultivation in the Western Ghats. Focusing on pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg as well as chili, the Global Nature Fund (GNF) developed biodiversity action plans for India in collaboration with the GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), in a project financed by the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. The project is part of the Internationale Klimaschutzinitiative (IKI - International Climate Protection Initiative).
While the GNF developed the methodology of the Biodiverstiy Action Plans first within the EU-LIFE Project “Biodiverstiy in Standards and Labels for the Food Industry”, the methodology is now being adapted to the context of Indian spice sector. The plans help to schedule, implement and monitor agricultural measure for the protection of biodiversity, thereby shedding a light on the protection and enhancement of ecological structures as well as promoting very good agricultural practices to reduce the negative impact of farming practices (e.g. reduced use of pesticides, erosion control, mixed cropping systems).
To unroll its full potential, the project team will teach farm advisors of food standards and Indian food companies on the principles of the biodiversity action plans and will accompany the implementation of the plans on selected farms. Rainforest Alliance, the Union for Ethical Biotrade, as well as Indian Institutions, like PDS Spices, the All Indian Spice Exporters Forum and the Spice Board of India support this initiative.
The project intends to cooperate closely with other initiatives and spice companies.