Implementing Biodiversity Action Plans Within Environmental Management Systems

Abstract

Thousands of organizations have so far been accredited to Environmental Management Standards such as ISO 14001 and EMAS and yet there have been very few examples of biodiversity issues being formally linked to certified Environmental Management Systems (EMS). As a first step in conserving biodiversity issues, there is a need to develop structured guidance setting out the process organisations must take to formally incorporate Biodiversity Action Plans into their Environmental Management Systems. Between October 2000 and October 2003 a research project was undertaken at the Environmental Systems Research Group at Aston University to develop a methodology to enable a company to establish and implement a corporate Biodiversity Action Plan within an Environmental Management System. The research project used 2 questionnaires at 14 collaborating organisations to collect information on biodiversity issues associated with each organisation and the integration of biodiversity issues into key stages of their EMS. This information was then used to develop process diagrams for incorporating biodiversity into an EMS thus delivering a process to conserve and enhance biodiversity in an organisational setting (organisational BAP). In addition a process to tailor key elements of this best practice approach to organisations individual circumstances is presented in a ‘Biodiversity Benchmark’ process, allowing them to protect and enhance their corporate biodiversity within a cycle of continuous improvement.