A hedgehog sits among brown, fallen leaves in front of a tree.

    bioSFer – Committed to Nature: Strategic approach to biodiversity

    Conserving and restoring biodiversity is one of the most urgent tasks of our time – and we can only succeed, if we act together and decisively. As a digital transformation and promotional bank, KfW takes on this responsibility and continues to actively contribute to the preservation of the natural resources.

    Life on earth without biodiversity is inconceivable. Yet human-induced biodiversity loss has been accelerating for decades. We still have the opportunity to stop this trend - and even reverse it. However, this requires rapid, ambitious and coordinated efforts. The signatory states of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework set a clear goal: a world of life in harmony with nature. At KfW, we are convinced that every contribution counts – together we can make a real difference and contribute to achieving the goal.

    “The ongoing loss of biodiversity threatens economically essential ecosystem services and thus ultimately our livelihoods. With an ongoing portfolio of around EUR 4.5 billion, KfW is already one of the largest financiers of biodiversity conservation worldwide. With the bioSFer project, we want to position ourselves even more strongly in this important future-oriented topic by making an active contribution to nature and the future viability of our economy." Christiane Laibach, member of KfW Group’s Executive Board

    Our roadmap for biodiversity

    KfW Group aims to lay the foundation for actively contributing to the recovery of biodiversity and to living in harmony with nature by 2050. To this end, KfW initiated the bioSFer project – an endeavour that we started at the beginning of 2023. From the outset, we focused on a cross-departmental, interdisciplinary team to address the topic with a holistic perspective.

    We want to increase our financial activities with positive impacts on biodiversity, as well as better understand and reduce potentially negative impacts. We also intend to manage the risks arising from the loss of biodiversity adequately.

    Six strategic dimensions

    To develop our biodiversity strategy, we focus on the following dimensions:

    • Increase financial activities with positive impact on biodiversity
    • Measure, avoid and mitigate negative impacts on biodiversity
    • Manage biodiversity-related risks in line with regulatory expectations
    • Comply with disclosure requirements and internal use of relevant data
    • Actively contribute to the development of standards and public debate
    • Support society and the economy in the transformative change

    These dimensions are currently being analysed and addressed in separate work packages. Together, they form the basis for our groupwide biodiversity strategy we are set to develop.

    The graphic shows the six dimensions of bioSFer, combined as circles to form a strategy flower.
    The six dimensions of bioSFer.

    Three questions to Gesa Reese, Project Manager of bioSFer

    Portrait Gesa Reese
    Gesa Reese heads the bioSFer project at KfW Group.

    Where does the project name bioSFer come from?

    The name bioSFer derives from the planetary boundary concept “Biosphere Integrity”. It describes the critical state of biodiversity and the urgency of protecting and restoring biodiversity – whereby the biosphere encompasses the entire system of all ecosystems. The capital letters SF in the middle of the word highlight the project’s integration into the Sustainable Finance concept of KfW Group. Thus, bioSFer combines ecological urgency with the financial sector’s strategic responsibility.

    What is special about KfW’s approach to developing the biodiversity strategy?

    What makes our approach special is the multidisciplinary perspective on the topic. We look at all key aspects – from positive impacts and avoiding negative impacts, to risks and dependencies. In addition, we aim to increase our positive contribution to the conservation of biodiversity by actively helping to shape the public debate and, not least, by supporting society and the economy in the transition process.

    What role does the Global Biodiversity Framework play in the development of the biodiversity strategy?

    The Global Biodiversity Framework adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Montreal aims to stop biodiversity loss and reverse it by 2050 – to enable life in harmony with nature. To this end, both a long-term vision by 2050 and targets by 2030 were defined. We at KfW Group also support the targets and vision and wish to make an active contribution with our own biodiversity strategy.

    Dossier Biodiversity

    The habitats of plants and animals are becoming smaller and smaller – with serious consequences

    Numerous KfW projects aim to protect biological diversity and overcome the biodiversity crisis. We report on this in our dossier on the occasion of the “International Day for Biological Diversity” on 22 May.

    Briefing Biodiversity

    How KfW works to nurture biodiversity all over the world

    The loss of biodiversity and the threat to ecosystems worldwide have direct negative consequences for people, nature and the climate – in developing and emerging countries, but also in Germany.