The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) has organised a conference, aimed at companies, to raise awareness of the obligations arising from the new European Regulation against Deforestation and Degradation (EUDR), as well as to make visible some experiences of companies developed within the framework of the European Timber Regulation (EUTR). During the meeting, held under the title “A European market free of deforestation: challenges and implications for the business sector”, the attending companies were able to learn about the new developments that apply to them and resolve doubts about the new Regulation approved. The conference, which was inaugurated by the Deputy Director for Green Transition of the Biodiversity Foundation, Sonia Castañeda, was attended by the Deputy Director General of Forest Policy and Combating Desertification of MITECO, Elsa Enríquez, and the Head of the Wood Area of MITECO, Marta Angoloti, who presented the main novelties of the new Regulation. and they have highlighted how this regulation will affect all those companies in the European Union that import, produce, transform, market or export certain products derived from seven raw materials (oil palm, soy, cattle, wood, coffee, cocoa and rubber). Among other obligations, they have pointed out that “they must implement a due diligence system to demonstrate that their supply chains do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation”. The Regulation has two objectives, on the one hand, to minimise the European Union’s (EU) contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide and thus contribute to reducing global deforestation. On the other hand, to reduce the EU’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and global biodiversity loss. It is therefore hoped to minimise the risk that products from supply chains associated with deforestation or forest degradation may enter the EU market. In addition, EU demand and trade for deforestation-free raw materials and their derived products is also expected to increase. Sonia Castañeda said that the role played by the Spanish Business and Biodiversity Initiative (IEEB), coordinated by the Biodiversity Foundation, is essential for companies to be able to comply with the obligations arising from the new European Regulation against deforestation and degradation. Within the framework of this conference, a round table was also held where different companies shared their experience in due diligence systems under the European Timber Regulation (EUTR). Participating in the debate were María Morales, head of Biodiversity at Leroy Merlin (Spain and Portugal); Luisa Fiona Willsher, sales manager of Madinter, Wood for Music; María Puerta, head of Environment and Sustainability at Garnica; and Luis Miguel de Miguel, manager of Madera Pinosoria. This seminar is the second of a cycle, organized within the framework of the IEEB Community of Practice, which will take place over the coming months, and in which seminars and workshops will be held to promote the involvement of the business sector in the conservation and restoration of biodiversity.

The activity programmed within this community includes a specific thematic line that, under the title “Deforestation-free forests”, aims to guide the private sector in decision-making in relation to the conservation and restoration of forests. After today’s meeting, the IEEB will organize, in the second half of 2023, a workshop to work on possible solutions to meet the needs that the private sector expresses in relation to the obligations arising from this new Regulation and to collect the corporate commitments they have acquired to achieve zero deforestation.

ABOUT THE SPANISH INITIATIVE BUSINESS AND BIODIVERSITY

The IEEB is a public-private collaboration platform that seeks to add the business sector to the improvement and maintenance of biodiversity and natural capital. It is aimed at entities in the business sector that want to know, explore opportunities, advance and show their commitment to nature conservation. Promoted by the Biodiversity Foundation, the IEEB is part of the European Business and Biodiversity Platform and the Global Business and Biodiversity Alliance. It also participates in international projects (SUSTAIN, BIODIVERSA+ and ALIGN) to generate and transfer knowledge that helps identify, assess and evaluate the impacts and dependencies of biodiversity and coordinates with other business and biodiversity initiatives through its strategic partners (Spanish Group for Green Growth, CEOE, Forética, Club of Excellence in Sustainability and Global Nature Foundation). All the information about this initiative and how to participate can be found at: ieeb.fundacion-biodiversidad.es