Biodiversity

The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines biological diversity (or biodiversity) as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part”. According to this definition, biodiversity includes genetic diversity (diversity within species), the diversity of species (diversity between species), and the diversity of ecosystems. It applies to all living beings, including people, and refers expressly to the services associated with ecosystems.

We consider the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity to be an important basis for human wellbeing. However, biodiversity is under threat on many levels, in particular due to changes in habitats as a result of intensive land use and land-use change (in agriculture and forestry).

Despite international efforts, it is currently not possible to quantify the effects on biodiversity in full using life cycle assessments. ifeu is involved in the ongoing development of a methodology, and has proposed options including the “hemeroby” approach (Fehrenbach et al. 2015). We also apply the Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment, LC-EIA, which we co-developed, in a wide range of studies in order to evaluate local environmental effects (including the impact on biodiversity).

Projects

SUREWAVE

Structural reliable offshore floating PV solution integrating circular concrete floating breakwater

The EU-funded project SUREWAVE is developing innovative marine Floating Photo-Voltaic (FPV) systems adapted to the most critical sea states far offshore. ifeu contributes the integrated sustainability…

BioMates

Reliable Bio-based Refinery Intermediates

The four-year project aims at manufacturing intermediate products made from wood-like or stalk-like non-food biomass, e.g. from agricultural residues and perennial grasses, which are suitable for…

COSMOS

COSMOS aims at reducing the dependence on imported coconut and palm kernel oils and fatty acids and on castor oil as sources for medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA, C10–C14) and medium-chain polymer…

Wissenschaftliche Studie

BIOCORE

The project focused on the production of a wide range of products from non-food biomass feedstocks using an innovative Organosolv technology.

BIOLYFE

The BIOLYFE project improved critical process steps and demonstrated the whole supply chain, from feedstock sourcing via fuel production to product utilisation.

Wissenschaftliche Studie

Ecological Effects of using Palm Oil as a Source of Energy

In this project, ifeu analysed the ecological effects of the use of palm oil as a source of energy and identified optimization potenatial.

Wissenschaftliche Studie

Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment of Stationary Energetic Use of Imported Biofuels: The Case of Palm Oil

The study analyses the characteristics of palm oil, possibilities of using it for energy as well as the environmental, economic and social consequences thereof.