From left to right: Prof. Dr. Dr. H. Michael Piper, Rector of Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf; Prof. Dr. Peter Westhoff, Director of Botanical Garden Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf; Heinrich Wyes, Central Asian Regional Environment Center; Dr. Roswitha Schönwitz, German Research Community; Thomas Bittinger, CEO Mars Chocolate Deutschland; Dr. Martin Woike, Ministry for the Environment and Conservation,

Düsseldorf, 6 July 2010 – Mars Deutschland is presenting its interactive travelling exhibition "No business diversity without biodiversity" (original title: "Ohne Vielfalt der Natur keine Vielfalt der Wirtschaft") in the Botanical Garden of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf. This is a central element of the Business and Biodiversity Initiative of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, in which Mars is participating, and illustrates the connections between biological diversity and economic activities.

What does overfishing have to do with employment? And when does economic growth endanger natural habitats? These questions and others are answered by the exhibition "No business diversity without biodiversity". The exhibition can be seen from today until 15 August in the Orangery of the Botanical Garden. Admission is free. The heart of the exhibition is an interactive terminal: a touch-sensitive interface allows the visitor to undertake a digital journey around the world, discovering nature and learning about trailblazing company projects aimed at protecting biodiversity. Large-format information pillars complement the multimedia offering.

In its capacity as a scientific institution, the Botanical Garden of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, is committed to the conservation and protection of plant diversity. Its presentation "The diversity of plants and their future" (original title "Die Vielfalt der Pflanzen und ihre Zukunft") accompanies the exhibition and provides a glance "behind the scenes" of the Botanical Garden.

More economic success in the long term thanks to biodiversity

The travelling exhibition is a core element of the Business and Biodiversity Initiative "Biodiversity in Good Company" of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, to which Mars belongs along with more than 40 other national and international brand companies. The members are committed to integrating the protection of biological diversity in their business activities and their management systems. "The commitment to biodiversity is an important element of sustainable economic development," said Thomas Bittinger, Managing Director of Mars Chocolate Deutschland at the opening of the exhibition. As the first major enterprise in the confectionary industry, Mars has committed itself, for example, to only use cocoa from certified and sustainable production from the year 2020 onwards. "Intact biological diversity, for instance in the cultivation of cocoa, has a direct impact on our core business," said Bittinger, adding that "Only cocoa plants that grow in a species-rich environment are really productive." For example, the plants thrive better when tall palm trees cast shadow on them. What's more, plant biodiversity keeps the soil healthy and fertile. Additional core elements of the biodiversity strategy of Mars are represented by the natural resources rice and fish.
 
The speakers at the opening ceremony included not only the Managing Director of Mars Chocolate Deutschland, but also the Principal of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Professor H. Michael Piper, and the Director of the Botanical Garden of the university, Professor Peter Westhoff. "Biological diversity is one of our core topics," according to Peter Westhoff. "With the travelling exhibition, the Business and Biodiversity Initiative makes it clear that there are also economic reasons for the protection of biodiversity, thus emphasising an important perspective." The opening of the exhibition was accompanied by a round of talks with experts from politics, science and business. Dr. Martin Woike, Director of the Forestry Department of the Ministry for the Environment of the Federal State of North-Rhine Westphalia, took part in the discussion.

Background: Year of Biological Diversity

Some 150 different species become extinct around the world every day. In addition to the irretrievable loss of natural diversity, the economic damages are also enormous. According to the World Economic Forum, the extinction of species and the destruction of ecosystems cost between two and four-and-a-half billion US dollars each year. For this reason, the United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biological Diversity. This is intended to help establish a global alliance for the conservation of biological diversity. Mars supports this objective. By means of the travelling exhibition, the "Biodiversity in Good Company" Initiative wishes to raise awareness of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). High-ranking government delegations from more than 190 nations will be attending the CBD Convention Workshop in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010.

Further information on the Business and Biodiversity Initiative is available at the following address: http://www.business-and-biodiversity.de/.

Mars presents: special multimedia exhibition on biodiversity
Orangery of the Botanical Garden of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf

6 July to 15 August 2010