The Biotope Foundation for Biodiversity
Our actions
When we created the Foundation in 2014, we wanted to perpetuate our commitments and those of our clients to the preservation and knowledge of the environment.
Therefore, we have two main objectives::
- Producing and sharing naturalist data and scientific knowledge with the general public and with biodiversity conservation managers or bodies.
- Initiating and implementing projects proposed by nature enthusiasts, in France or abroad, who want to set actions in motion to preserve biodiversity.
Designing and implementing projects to support biodiversity
The Biotope Foundation receives public funds to implement projects contributing to the study, conservation, management and promotion of biodiversity in all its forms. It works in mainland France and the French overseas departments and territories, and also abroad.
There is a wide variety of projects: they may relate to the introduction of more environmentally-friendly pastoral practices in Morocco; the production of a tool for identifying freshwater fish species in Guyana; bio-acoustic monitoring of the population of short-snouted seahorses in the Gard; and many others.
Financing projects to support biodiversity
Every year the Foundation backs projects proposed by private individuals, associations, businesses or local authorities who are committing to lead actions to support biodiversity.
For example, the Foundation has financed a regional exhibition of Mediterranean orchids, a study of the migratory phenology of sparrows in Ille-et-Vilaine, the marking and behaviour- monitoring of giant devil rays off the coast of Corsica, the observation of the pelagic avifauna of the Celtic Sea continental shelf, and others.
Spreading knowledge about biodiversity
Drawing especially on the projects by Biotope employees, but also thanks to its financial partners and the projects that it supports financially, the Foundation publishes its notebooks and journals, which are available free online.
Besides sharing outstanding photos, those notebooks and journals contribute to naturalist and scientific knowledge about little-known animal or plant species. For instance, the Foundation publishes underwater ichthyological inventories, determination keys for identifying amphibians and reptiles, annotated lists and catalogues of marine invertebrates.
A member of the IUCN
Our governance
- 6 members representing the founder;
- 1 member representing the representatives of the staff of the Biotope company;
- 4 mmbers representing qualified personalities, chosen for the ability to contribute to the actions of the Business Foundation and their experience in their fields of work
The board of directors establishes the action programme and amends it if appropriate, votes the budget necessary for running the Foundation and implementing its programme, approves the accounts and the activity report annually, and decides on any loans and court proceedings.
Financial audit
The Biotope Business Foundation for Biodiversity is audited every year by a chartered accountant and a statutory auditor.
