Earthmind
| |
Small business & NGO | |
Industry | Nature conservation and biodiversity advisory services |
Founded | 2010 |
Founder | Francis Vorhies |
Headquarters | Divonne-les-Bains, France |
Number of locations | Gland, Switzerland |
Website | http://earthmind.org/ |
Earthmind is a small business based in Divonne-les-Bains. Its sister organization is an NGO which maintains an office at the IUCN Conservation Centre in Gland, Switzerland. The French business was founded in 2010 and the Swiss NGO in 2006.[1]
Earthmind brings together a network of independent professional associates and consultants who operate in the field of sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. Earthmind works with clients and partners in the private, public and NGO sectors on various projects promoting sustainability solutions, primarily with respect to biodiversity.
Mission
Earthmind’s mission is "caring for our planet".[2] Its efforts seek to achieve a sustainable balance between the natural environment and human activity. By working with and assisting private companies, public organisations and non-profit groups, Earthmind seeks to evolve economic and social practices by promoting the concept of a “synergistic balance” between people and nature.
Programmes
Earthmind’s work is organised under three broad programmes:
Biodiversity Advisory Services
In partnering with various private companies, NGO’s and governmental organisations, Earthmind seeks to find the common ground between business and biodiversity. Initiatives have included co-authoring a joint IUCN/Shell Oil Company study on building biodiversity business,[3] supporting the UNCTAD BioTrade Initiative,[4] and the EU Business and support to the Biodiversity Platform.[5] Recent assignments have included lender audits of corporate biodiversity assessments and plans with respect to Performance Standard 6 of the International Finance Corporation.
Verified Conservation Areas
Earthmind has developed a new approach to recognising and supporting area-based conservation. Known as the Verified Conservation Area (VCA) Approach, it promotes conservation where we live and work. More information is available on the VCA Approach website: http://conserveareas.org/.
Wild Trade
Earthmind newest programme focuses on the sustainable trade in wild goods and services in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. More information is available at http://wildtrade.org.
Associates
A network of Associates undertake Earthmind work on a contractual or voluntary basis. They help to organise and contribute to Earthmind’s projects and also advise on new directions for Earthmind's areas of work. The network includes experienced Senior Associates, academic Research Associates, and Junior Associates (interns).
References
- ↑ activeCMS by DEVinitiv GbR, 2011 - www.devinitiv.de. "Dr Francis Vorhies". Business-biodiversity.eu. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
- ↑ "Tierramérica". Tierramerica.info. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
- ↑ "Working with biodiversity experts | Environment & Society". Shell.com. 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
- ↑ "BioTrade Initiative, UNCTAD". Biotrade.org. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
- ↑ "The EU Business @ Biodiversity Platform | Home". Ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2012-01-28.