The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is spearheading the establishment and activities of the National Biodiversity and Business Network, in alignment with the model of the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity, and in collaboration with the founding partners of the Network, currently including the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), Pick n Pay, Nedbank, Hatch and De Beers. The aim of the network is to facilitate engagement with various business sectors, industries and related stakeholders to promote and assist the integration and mainstreaming of biodiversity considerations into business agendas and operations. It is designed to be an open and inclusive network with the objectives to raise awareness of biodiversity and relevant sustainability issues amongst the business community,  to encourage dialogue amongst stakeholders in this area, as well as to provide pragmatic and practical support to facilitate the mainstreaming process. The primary role of the network is to bring national stakeholders in the business and biodiversity field together to share ideas and engage in a national dialogue. The work of the network is going to be essential to develop innovative approaches, solutions and partnerships to ensure that biodiversity, ecological infrastructure (including related services) and the overall natural capital of South Africa are efficiently managed and conserved to support the national economic and social development of the country.

The EWT and the founding partners of the Network would be delighted if you could join us for an official launch event during which we will present you with the aim and objectives of the network and the schedule of events for 2013. We will introduce our supporting partners who will be instrumental in supporting the activities of the network. Our founding partners will present their views regarding the need to mainstream biodiversity considerations into business and the role of the network in this context.

We look forward to seeing you on 15 May 2013.

Location: Gordon Institute of Business Science (Restaurant), 26 Melville Road, Illovo, Johannesburg
Date and Time: 15 May 2013, 7:30 am for 8:00 am (please arrive on time and feel free to come earlier. Coffee, breakfast and Wifi will be available, and early morning networking is always the best!)
Duration: 1h30 followed by a light breakfast

Please RSVP by 13 May 2013 by sending a confirmation email to Precious Morgan at preciousm@ewt.org.za <mailto:emmac@ewt.org.za> . You can also contact Precious on 011 372 3600.