BAT Biodiversity Partnership Bulletina

Welcome to the latest edition of the Biodiversity Bulletin.

Now that we are half way through this second Term (2006 – 2010), we thought it would be a good idea to take stock and have a closer look at what we have achieved over the last few years. Categorised by our 3 strategic priorities, here are our key achievements:

Integrate biodiversity into British American Tobacco’s business

• BAT has committed to assessing and mitigating its impacts in its Biodiversity Statement (2006) – since then tools and measures are being incorporated into the business through the Partnership
• Risk Assessment Tool: launched as a working draft 2007, as a full
  reference document 2008
• Biodiversity incorporated in BEST and SRTP: launched 2006, 5% increase in scores by 2007

Build capacity of individuals and organisations

• Biodiversity online learning module via the BAT intranet site
• 46 BAT employees became Earthwatch Fellows, 20 active in follow up projects
• 290 Chiletabacos and CTC staff volunteers assisted in biodiversity projects
• 93% of 96 trainees in Africa remaining active in conservation
• 24 institutions participated in specialist training workshops in Africa
• 67 conservationists learned research skills on projects in Africa and Belarus
• Community education in 10 villages surrounding the Bangliang Forest Block, Cao Vit Gibbon habitat

Protect and restore habitats and species and ensure sustainable use of natural resources

• 43,400 ha protected in Virunga massif and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Research contributing to  management of threatened wetlands in Belarus and Mount Mulanje Biosphere Reserve, Malawi
• 27 black rhino translocated from Solio Ranch in Kenya
• Global Trees: Six new projects on threatened tree species funded
• 1,738 new species collected and conserved in the Millennium Seed Bank Project

We hope that you enjoy the Project Spotlight stories this quarter.

Ruth Hossain - Programme Manager