GSS - Global Sustainable Strategy

Use and Impacts of Biodiversity

Energia

The impacts to biological diversity are not so evident as to the impacts on climate and water systems. However their effects can be catastrophic and include much more than we think. That is why GSS now focuses on offering our clients pioneering actions in the preservation and maintenance of biodiversity on the planet. We hardly know what the impacts of our daily actions are; and companies often do not realize that their activities are also damaging, even if indirectly.

There are several reasons for our concern with the preservation of biodiversity, such as:

Economic - although it is difficult to value the biodiversity, its preservation benefits are no longer questionable.
Environment - environmental services of enormous importance, such as carbon sequestration, purification of water resources, as well as pollination, maintenance of natural life and reduction of climate change impacts.
Ethical - responsibility in maintaining the diversity of life on earth for future generations.
Emotional - nature conservation represents as well as maintenance of life, recreation, culture and inspiration.

Biodiversity Alive

Energia

Considering the need to assist companies in respect to the impacts on biodiversity, GSS created the Biodiversity Alive. A unique product that identifies and evaluates the use and impact on biodiversity. The methodology requires the observance of different aspects, such as direct and indirect use valuation, value by choice and existence value. There are four priorities for Biodiversity Alive:

Sustainable conservation and use of biodiversity.
Sharing of benefits gained from the use of genetic resources.
Research, monitoring and information exchange.
Education, training and awareness of stakeholders - society, government, businesses and researchers.

Our role is to assist companies to understand the potential impacts on biodiversity arising from their activities, advising on how to minimize those impacts. To increase the sustainability of your company, we identify potential conflicts of the company's actions according to the laws and other regulations on biodiversity, in addition to complying with reporting requirements by policies and stakeholders involved.

Biotechnology and Traditional Knowledge

Energia

The Convention on Biological Diversity was signed during the Eco 92 and aims to conserve biodiversity, promote sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits arising from utilization of genetic resources, including appropriate access to genetic resources and technology transfer, taking into account all rights over those resources and technologies.

The provisional Law 2186-16 deals with access and share of benefits by the use of genetic resource and associated traditional knowledge in Brazil.

GSS has a specialized team to help companies who need guidance on how to proceed when requesting authorization for access to genetic resources and traditional knowledge related to the Board of Management of Genetic Resources - the national body under the Ministry of Environment, responsible for the analysis of these applications.

GSS offers its customers comprehensive consulting services in the evaluation, review and audit of products already launched, focusing on the legalization as well as on drafting of legal instruments to gain authorization (Statement of Prior Informed Consent), shipment of samples of genetic patrimony and contracts for the use of genetic resources and benefits sharing.

The irregular use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge characterizes bio-piracy; for this reason our concern is to ensure that our customers make use of biodiversity in accordance with the principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity, considering that the associated traditional knowledge gained particular importance in the biotechnology industry, especially pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, chemicals and agricultural products.