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Biodiversity in tobacco growing areas

Tobacco growing depends on biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. As such, we have a strong focus on protecting the biodiversity around tobacco growing areas to help make sure our future supplies of tobacco are secure.

As part our Biodiversity Partnership with three conservation NGOs, we have developed a
biodiversity risk and opportunity assessment tool. The tool helps our companies identify, assess and address risks arising from their impacts and dependencies on biodiversity and ecosystems in and around their leaf-growing operations.

All our tobacco leaf growing operations have completed assessments and initiatives are in place to address the issues identified. The next round of assessments, using an updated version of the tool, are expected to be completed by end 2014.

Read more about our Biodiversity risk and opportunity assessments.

The work of our Biodiversity Partnership also focuses on tobacco growing areas, specifically:

• Reducing unsustainable use of forests for fuel and restoring natural forests;
• Enhancing freshwater ecosystems, through improved vegetation cover and water management; and
• Promoting agricultural practices that enhance soil health and biodiversity.

Read more about the Biodiversity Partnership.

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