Biodiversity conservation assessment

Responsible forest management is an essential practice for both preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Healthy ecosystems can generate a wide range of services that meet our basic needs and improve the well-being, health and economy of communities.

Healthy ecosystems play an important role in climate regulation and biodiversity conservation is a key element in mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. In turn, about 12% of the forest area under management is classified as Areas of Conservation Interest (ZiC) and is the habitat of a wide range of flora and fauna, where species with different conservation and protection statuses (such as rare, endemic species or under national and European legal protection) are included.

High Conservation Value Areas (HCVA), a unique concept of FSC® certification, are particularly relevant within these areas in light of exceptional environmental, social and cultural values. The Navigator Company’s forest area is 100% double certified. To integrate biodiversity conservation into our forest management model, we have developed a strategy to maintain (“no net loss”) or improve (“net positive gain”) the existing biodiversity in our relevant areas and ensure its conservation status. The goal? Maximize the benefits and minimize the negative impacts of its forest operations on biodiversity. This means that we are committed to ensuring that there will be no net loss of biodiversity in our forestry operations, ideally promoting net biodiversity gains.

To this end, we have put several measures in place, such as the protection of conservation areas, recovery of degraded ecosystems (such as oak forests, riparian lines, etc.) and the implementation of sustainable forest management practices. In addition, we work together with local communities to promote biodiversity conservation in their relevant areas, encouraging the implementation of sustainable land and water management practices.

Such means of biodiversity protection are taken as a means to promote the generation of employment and income for local communities through the development of sustainable tourism activities and non-timber forest products (such as honey).

In short, conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services is an integral part of responsible forest management. Companies that, like Navigator, adopt a biodiversity conservation strategy can maximize the benefits of their forest operations and minimize negative impacts on biodiversity.

DID YOU KNOW THAT…

• Biodiversity is the basis for many industries, including pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics. Many of the species that are found in nature contain chemical compounds that can be used to develop new medicines and other products. For example, penicillin, one of the most widely used antibiotics worldwide, originates from a small fungus that lives in the soil.
• There are more than 8 million species of plants and animals on Earth. But only a small number have been studied and catalogued by scientists. Biodiversity loss can have serious consequences for the global economy.
• It is estimated that the degradation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems affects about 2 billion peopleand costs about 10% of the planet’s GDP annually in terms of loss of species and ecosystem services.
• Currently, about 15% of the earth’s land surface and 7% of the planet’s marine surface are under protection. Protected areas, such as national parks and nature reserves, are critical to nature conservation and biodiversity.

In Portugal, for example, these areas represent 8% of the continental territory and bring together the most representative set of natural and landscape heritage values. On the other hand, with proper management, planted forests could also help preserve biodiversity, intrinsically and, obviously, help protecting natural forests.

• Pollination is one of the most important systemic services for food production, although many pollinator species, such as some bees and butterfly species, are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and pesticide use.
• Biodiversity conservation is a responsibility for all of us. Each individual can and should play an active role in preserving biodiversity, whether through conscious consumption choices based on natural, recyclable and biodegradable products, supporting conservation projects or engaging in actions to restore local ecosystems.