Beyond Conservation: Sustainable Practices for Biodiversity Preservation

In 2000, The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 ‘The International Day for Biological Diversity’ to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues

22 years later, The Kumming montreal agreement is adopted to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. Biodiversity is in crisis. Life on earth is in crises. We urgently need

to think beyond fences, so we can drive credible business actions to achieve a nature-positive economy so that business and nature can thrive together.

However, the real challenge now lies ahead: translating this plan into meaningful action. How do we authentically protect nature? Conservation areas are essential, but they alone cannot safeguard our entire biodiversity.

Can we protect biodiversity simply by not using any of its resources? Many companies are opting to use fewer natural ingredients from nature due to concerns about risks. However, it’s important to realize that avoiding the use of biodiversity resources can actually worsen the problem, accelerating nature loss instead of reversing it.

To truly safeguard our biodiversity, we must give value to nature. The more we value an ecosystem, the better we can protect it. This concept might seem counterintuitive, as we often think that leaving nature untouched is the best way to protect it. However, assigning value to biodiversity is key to its preservation. To halt biodiversity loss, humans and nature must coexist harmoniously, embracing sustainable practices across industries, whether in perfumery, food, technology, or others.

In this short article, I will demonstrate how the flavor and fragrance industry can protect and promote biodiversity through sustainable actions at the source, using the example of two specific ingredients.

PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY THROUGH SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING OF PERU BALSAM

Peru Balsam, a resin harvested exclusively in El Salvador, showcases how the flavor and fragrance industry can protect biodiversity through sustainable practices. Balsameros, small-scale collectors, use ancestral methods and natural tools to ensure minimal harm to the Myroxylon balsamum trees, preserving the ecological balance.

The sustainability of Peru Balsam faces several challenges

The traditional know-how of balsam harvesting is at risk as younger generations are disinterested due to low visibility and economic instability. Price variability leads to economic instability, driving young collectors to migrate and threatening the value chain. Additionally, climbing and harvesting pose significant safety risks, and there is insufficient data on tree regeneration, complicating sustainable management efforts.

Nelixia’s Sustainable Initiatives

Since 2016, Nelixia has been working to address these challenges through various initiatives. We have achieved FairWild and UEBT certifications, covering 80% of our Peru Balsam volume, ensuring sustainable practices and fair trade. Training on sustainable techniques and the creation of harvesting manuals have been provided to the balsameros. Economic stability is supported through the establishment of minimum prices and long-term contracts with collectors. Safety measures, such as health insurance, new equipment like climbing shoes and safety glasses, and first-aid kits, have been implemented to reduce risks. Transparency is ensured through local para- technicians who track traceability back to the plot.

Impact on Biodiversity and Community:

Nelixia’s efforts have had a significant positive impact on both the environment and the local community, as scientifically validated through satellite imagery. While El Salvador experienced 8% forest loss from 2001 to 2021 (according to Global Forest Watch), the Peru Balsam forest managed by Nelixia increased its biomass by 4.5% from 2016 to 2022.

This data demonstrates that sustainable actions have directly contributed to forest biomass increase and biodiversity protection.

Nelixia’s sustainable management of Peru Balsam demonstrates that protecting biodiversity is achievable through fair and transparent practices. This approach benefits both the environment and local communities, proving the importance of sustainable actions at the source. For more details, please request the full scientific report.

HOW SUSTAINABLE GAIACWOOD PRODUCTION PROTECTS EL CHACO’S UNIQUE BIODIVERSITY

El Chaco, known as the “impenetrable forest,” is one of the last primary forests in Latin America, second only to the Amazon Rainforest. A territory covering 100 million hectares of dry tropical forest distributed between Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil. Although uninviting to humans, it constitutes a real paradise for nature. It is home to over 3,400 plant species, 500 bird species, and numerous mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, with even more fauna diversity than the Amazonas.

However, El Chaco faces one of the highest deforestation rates on the planet, with nearly 8 million hectares lost in the past thirty years due to agriculture and cattle farming (Reuters) (The Nature Conservancy). This deforestation poses a significant threat to the region’s unique biodiversity.

Gaiacwood oil and Nelixia’s Commitment

Gaiacwood oil, derived from the Bulnesia sarmientoi tree, thrives exclusively in the Chaco region, particularly in Paraguay. This tree is crucial for the fragrance industry but has been subject to unsustainable harvesting practices in the past. To ensure the sustainable use of this resource, a sustainable forest management plan is essential.

The concept of sustainable forest management, defined at the Rio Summit in 1992, involves managing forests to preserve biodiversity, vitality, and regenerative ability. This begins with a comprehensive inventory of the forest, assessing the number of species, tree ages, and dimensions to create a sustainable management plan.

Nelixia was the first in its kind to implement a management plan for Gaiacwood. We lease over 4,700 hectares in El Chaco to manage Gaiacwood sustainably.

After conducting an inventory, we developed a fifteen- year forest management plan. This plan involves selective harvesting of no more than 5 trees per hectare every 15 years, ensuring enough light for forest regeneration and younger trees to mature. Trees are cut by hand at 20 cm, preserving the roots for regeneration.

Our management plan has been audited by UEBT (Union for Ethical BioTrade) and aligns with CITES guidelines, reaching the highest level of ethical sourcing verification.

The leasing of the primary forest to create a forest management plan prevents deforestation and preserves the ecosystem, ensuring the continuous supply of Gaiacwood while protecting biodiversity. This situation in El Chaco highlights the urgent need for preserving biodiversity through sustainable practices.

Nelixia’s pioneering efforts in forest management demonstrate how a well-implemented plan can protect unique ecosystems and support local communities. By valuing nature and integrating sustainable practices, we can ensure the thriving coexistence of business and biodiversity. For more details on our sustainable practices and their impact, please reach out for the full report.

Conclusion:

In this article we focused on 2 ingredients, but this is our approach for each ingredient. We aim to offer nature positive ingredients, promoting and protecting biodiversity in their ecosystems, so our clients can promote their use, riskless, and contribute themselves to further biodiversity protection.

This is our way to demonstrate that business and nature can coexist in harmony. However, we need to strive for even more ambitious models, for example mixing conservation and sustainable management, as those models will shape our future and our industry’s future.

Stay tuned for that subject in my next article.