Abstract
Primary producers alone are unable to restore biodiversity, protect soil or manage water resources. Business is a key partner, as choices of large and small companies directly or indirectly impact Czech nature.
Sustainable production of agricultural commodities or timber is impossible without active involvement of companies. Businesses pay an increasing attention to their sustainability.
They measure and reduce their carbon footprint, switch to renewable energy, implement circular economy measures or monitor their contribution to deforestation. Attention has unsurprisingly focused on risks of global importance so far.
Czech landscapes are the next turn, and likely to be the next big topic of business sustainability. However, necessary metrics, procedures and standards are generally lacking, in contrast to global risks.
Some companies already launched initiatives that attempt to find meaningful solutions. The publication arose from a pilot project in which the Charles Universtiy Environment Center, Czech Confederation of Trade and Tourism and the Biology Center of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic developed a national standard for soil protection in business supply chains.
It looks at the agenda from a wider perspective. It serves two purposes.
Above all, it identifies where and how businesses affect land, water or biodiversity. At the same time, it also points to complex, indirect and often difficult to detect connections.
Secondly, it suggests actionable measures that companies can effectively employ in order to ensure sustainable management of Czech landscapes in their operations.