We believe business has a role to play in reversing nature loss and protecting biodiversity. Across North America, we are focusing on avoidance of negative impacts on threatened or protected species and restoration of degraded habitat.
Biological diversity – or BIODIVERSITY – refers to the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms that inhabit the planet and how they work together in an ecosystem to maintain balance and support life.
Humans can’t exist without biodiversity. Bees, butterflies and many other species are responsible for the food we eat, and their habitats provide us with fresh water, shelter and raw materials. Ecosystems provide over half of global GDP and encompass diverse cultural, spiritual and economic values.
But human activity is putting pressure on biodiversity and accelerating biodiversity loss. A report issued by the United Nations in 2019 estimates that up to 1 million plant and animal species – out of a known 8 million – are threatened with extinction.
This on its own is a global challenge, but biodiversity is also inextricably linked to climate change – nature plays a significant role in capturing and storing CO₂ from the atmosphere through ecosystem services, on land and in the oceans.
The current rate of habitat and species decline is unprecedented and threatens the foundations of economies, food security, health and livelihoods. Businesses are expected to play a significant role in achieving the bold and transformative steps urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) is committed to doing our part to operate in harmony with nature. That’s why we named "Biodiversity" as one of our four environmental sustainability focus areas.
In North America, our biodiversity strategy includes partnering with nonprofit organizations and local communities to achieve positive and wide-reaching conservation results on our sites and in our communities. Our projects focus on:
Since 1999, Toyota has been partnering with Wildlife Habitat Council® (WHC, now part of Tandem Global) to restore habitats on our properties. WHC Conservation Certification recognizes meaningful wildlife conservation and education programs on corporate lands. Toyota has certified programs at 17 sites. Several of these sites have set aside acreage and have installed walking trails to allow team members and the public to enjoy these protected areas. Other certification activities include tree and pollinator garden planting, installing and monitoring bird nesting boxes, and working with local schools to teach students about the importance of biodiversity.
Pollinator species such as bees and butterflies are responsible for pollinating the food we eat, and their habitats provide us with fresh water, shelter and raw materials. The loss of habitat is one of the most pressing threats facing pollinators. That’s why we have established a target within our current five-year environmental action plan to enhance at least 26,000 acres of pollinator habitat in North America between 2021 and 2026. For progress on how we’re doing, see our story here.
TMNA has undertaken a value chain assessment of our potential impacts on land, water, biodiversity and other aspects of nature. We used the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) to assess our North American sites. According to IBAT, Toyota North America’s top 10 facilities with high overall biodiversity significance scores are in California, Oregon and Puerto Rico. We are using the results of the IBAT assessment to inform the locations for a habitat restoration target we will support in our next five-year environmental action plan.
Upstream, the process of tracing environmental impacts involves evaluating the origin of raw materials for thousands of parts used to assemble vehicles. To facilitate this process, we are collaborating with other automotive manufacturers through Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP).
Downstream, TMNA is focusing on impacts related to driving. TMNA is working with National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to identify opportunities for wildlife crossing projects within a 500-mile radius of Toyota’s U.S. manufacturing facilities and truck delivery routes.
Small actions can lead to big impacts. Take a look at a few things you can do to help Make a Better Planet...
Pollinators are all around us, so we all have opportunities to help. From a single pot of flowers on a balcony to a sprawling acreage of land, creating a pollinator garden of any size can help these vital creatures thrive.
Plant a tree in your yard, or donate to a reforestation project. Every tree is a breath of fresh air, literally.
Check with your local park, refuge or other wildlife area and help remove invasive troublemakers and spread the word.
Don’t stop now, head over to the Toyota Choose Your Change page and see even more smart things you can do to make a positive environmental impact at work, home and play.
