MANE commitments for biodiversity

Today we celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity!

This day serves as a reminder to us all that we must continue to help protect the incredible diversity of life on Earth, more endangered than ever.

MANE has been committed to the fight to help conserve biodiversity for a long time. In 2016, we signed the Business and Biodiversity Pledge at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference COP 13. This commitment made biodiversity conservation an integral component of MANE’s sustainable development and responsible purchasing policies.

In addition to biodiversity projects on the ground focusing on the supply chains of key natural ingredients, we also promote the restoration of biodiversity through partnerships with non-profit organisations. One such organisation is the Cartagena Botanical Garden in Colombia, to which MANE provides a yearly donation.

The Cartagena Botanical Garden is the leading scientific institution on biodiversity in the Colombian Caribbean. It implements long-terms actions at a regional level on the Colombian Caribbean coast from Uraba to La Guajira. This institution strives to protect, restore, and enrich ecosystems such as mangrove habitats and a very specific ecosystem, seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF).

Characterised by highly seasonal rainfall patterns resulting in a uniquely adapted biodiversity, SDTF is one of the world's most degraded ecosystems with less than 2% of its original surface area remaining globally. Most of Colombian SDTF is now fragmented into small remnants, due to its conversion into pastures for cattle farming and agricultural land.

The anthropogenic threats associated with climate change explain the urgent need for developing environmental conservation strategies. Cartagena Botanical Garden’s mission is to conduct research on biodiversity conservation and educate visitors for the conservation of Colombian Caribbean biodiversity. Our goal is to assist the Cartagena Botanical Garden in its efforts to preserve remaining forests and restore key biodiversity areas of SDTF, natural habitat of the tolu balsam. As this natural ingredient is used in perfumery for its sweet woody vanilla facets (Myroxilum toluifera), ensuring its future biological availability is in all of our interests.

#biodiversity #environment #sustainable