Safeguarding What We Sell: Embedding Biodiversity in Tourism’s DNA
Summary
This panel session from ITB Berlin 2026's Responsible Tourism Track examines how tourism companies can embed biodiversity protection into their core business strategy. Moderated by Matthias Beyer (Managing Director, Mascontour), the session featured a keynote by Martina von Münchhausen (Senior Programme Manager Sustainable Tourism, WWF Germany) and Tatjana Peters (Project Manager, Futouris e.V.), followed by a panel with Lucienne Damm (Head of Sustainability, TUI Cruises), Anna Lindner (Manager Corporate Responsibility, DERTOUR Group), and Luise Toepfer (Sustainability Expert, Chamäleon).
The session opened with an audience poll on biodiversity loss drivers: 91% correctly identified habitat degradation and loss as a leading driver. WWF's von Münchhausen confirmed the 'Big Five' drivers — overuse and overexploitation of natural resources, invasive species, pollution, climate change, and habitat loss — with almost 50% of total biodiversity loss attributable to habitat loss and degradation. A stark statistic highlighted the industry's inaction: less than 1% of publicly reporting companies have provided information on the impact of their activities on nature.
Futouris launched an industry pilot project — 'Biodiversity and Tourism' — in partnership with WWF Germany and Mascontour, with member companies Chamäleon, DERTOUR Group, Schauinsland-Reisen, TUI Cruises, and TUI Group participating. The project developed individual biodiversity strategies through a structured multi-step methodology: (1) stakeholder mapping, (2) full value chain analysis covering upstream, direct, and downstream operations, (3) double materiality screening to prioritize material impacts, (4) destination/location-level biodiversity risk assessment using tools like the WWF Biodiversity Risk Filter, (5) target-setting with KPIs and timelines, and (6) action planning anchored to the mitigation hierarchy — avoid first, then reduce, then restore.
Key findings from the value chain analysis showed that five value chains contribute roughly 90% of habitat loss: food and beverage, infrastructure and mobility, energy, freshwater use, and marine/coastal operations — all of which are core pillars of tourism operations. Identified material impacts included ecosystem destruction from food production, use of pesticides, use of marine resources, and extensive water consumption.
For the next implementation phase, Futouris announced two project modules focusing on (1) biodiversity protection in hotel operations (water/energy/waste and biodiversity-friendly hotel gardens) and (2) reducing biodiversity impacts in the F&B value chain, including working with suppliers on high-risk commodities and ocean-friendly sourcing.
DERTOUR Group's Anna Lindner described their prioritization logic: intersecting high guest volume/own operations (own hotels and DMCs) with high destination biodiversity risk. Priority focus areas include F&B sourcing, water treatment, and waste management in high-risk countries. Chamäleon's Luise Toepfer highlighted the challenge of data scarcity for smaller operators who rely on destination partners, emphasizing that establishing a reliable baseline is a necessary first step before measuring progress. Both panelists stressed that biodiversity connects to and should be integrated with existing climate strategies, as climate change is itself a major driver of biodiversity loss.
Key Takeaways
- •Less than 1% of publicly reporting companies have provided information on the impact of their activities on nature, according to WWF Germany's Martina von Münchhausen — a figure she described as 'really striking' and a 'kind of paradox' given that tourism marketing extensively uses nature and biodiversity imagery to attract customers.
- •Almost 50% of total global biodiversity loss is attributable to habitat loss and degradation, and five value chains account for roughly 90% of habitat loss: food and beverage, infrastructure and mobility, energy production, freshwater use, and marine/coastal habitats — all central pillars of tourism operations.
- •Every year, 20 million tons of plastic waste leaks into aquatic ecosystems, constituting what von Münchhausen called a 'global disaster' that cannot be recycled away — requiring a 'systematic transformation to a circular economy,' a direct call to action for tourism operators addressing pollution in their value chains.
- •Futouris launched an industry pilot project 'Biodiversity and Tourism' with members Chamäleon, DERTOUR Group, Schauinsland-Reisen, TUI Cruises, and TUI Group, implemented with WWF Germany and Mascontour, to develop practical, company-specific biodiversity strategies with action plans, tangible targets, and KPIs.
- •The recommended six-step biodiversity strategy framework covers: stakeholder mapping, full value chain analysis (upstream to downstream), double materiality screening, destination-level biodiversity risk filtering, target/vision setting applying the mitigation hierarchy (avoid → reduce → restore), and action planning with concrete KPIs and timelines.
- •Tatjana Peters of Futouris outlined two upcoming implementation project modules: Module 1 focuses on biodiversity protection in hotel operations (water, energy, waste management, biodiversity-friendly hotel gardens); Module 2 targets reducing biodiversity impacts in the F&B value chain by engaging suppliers on high-risk commodities and promoting ocean-friendly sourcing practices on cruise ships and in hotels.
- •DERTOUR Group's Anna Lindner explained their prioritization approach as the intersection of two criteria: (1) business volume and leverage — prioritizing destinations where they operate at scale, have their own hotels, and run their own DMCs — and (2) destination-level biodiversity risk. Feasibility and local capacity were also factored in for concrete measure design.
Transcript
Lovely to see you back here at the ITV Berlin Convention 2026. Thank you so much for joining us for the responsible tourism track. It's great to see you and I great it's great to see some new faces but also some familiar faces. Ladies and gentlemen, now I hand over in just a second to Matias because we are diving into the question on how to safeguard what we sell when it comes to embedding biodiversity really into protection in the tourism DNA. And I hand over to the managing director of Mascont...
