Let’s talk biodiversity – Finnfund’s nature and biodiversity statement in preparation

“Biodiversity is life in all its forms and the protection of life,” said Sami El Geneidy, Doctoral Researcher and Biodiversity Footprint Team Lead at the University of Jyväskylä.

On 25^th of January, Finnfund organised a workshop to discuss biodiversity and the role of investors in mitigating the negative impacts and enhancing positive impacts of businesses to nature and biodiversity. The event was part of the preparation process of Finnfund’s statement on nature and biodiversity.

At the beginning of the event, El Geneidy presented the biodiversity footprint calculation model their team has been developing and testing with several Finnish organisations.

“So far, we have mainly seen focus on assessing the negative impacts and mitigating the harm done. However, there is an increasing interest to also understand and manage avoided negative and positive impacts on biodiversity,” El Geneidy said.

Visa Tuominen, Senior International Development Expert at WWF Finland, presented WWF’s approach on what businesses and investors can and should do to protect and enhance biodiversity through their operations.

“We need more of the good and less of the bad. Businesses must look at their operations critically and long-term – and then develop and implement a coherent transition plan. This means aligning of the business model and strategy with respecting planetary boundaries related to biosphere integrity and land-system change,” Tuominen stated.

Anne Valto, Senior Development Impact Adviser at Finnfund, presented Finnfund’s nature and biodiversity approach and shared some ideas on Finnfund’s first Nature and biodiversity statement, which will be  prepared during this spring. After her presentation, a group work generated a lively conversation and a great number of fruitful ideas for the approach and statement.

As Kaisa Alavuotunki, Director of Impact and Sustainability, said in her opening words, nature and biodiversity are at the very core of Finnfund’s mission and daily work.

“The workshop provided us extremely valuable feedback and ideas for the work, and we are grateful for all participants of their insights. Feedback from people looking at and working with the topic from different angels helps us to set our targets and prioritize our activities when developing our framework further. Naturally, we are also happy if our work can inspire others,” Valto said.

Finnfund’s team will be working on the company’s first nature and biodiversity statement during this spring. Once ready, the statement will be published on Finnfund’s website.

We appreciate feedback and ideas for the statement. Should you wish to share your thoughts, please contact: Anne Valto, Senior Development Impact Adviser, anne.valto@finnfund.fi