Connecting Biodiversity and the Crafts Sector

This research project started in February 2025, and it aims to strengthen the connection between biodiversity and the crafts sector. Its goal is to make it easier to integrate biodiversity-friendly practices into urban planning and craft-related industries — and to raise awareness that every initiative, big or small, makes a difference.

What are the benefits and challenges of using recycled wood for carpenters? Does it matter if the grain for your local bakery grows among flower beds instead of uniform crop fields*? Beyond the environmental impact, what economic advantages can biodiversity measures bring to craft businesses?

To explore these questions, our research follows four main steps:

1. Assessing the current situation: How do craft companies currently incorporate biodiversity measures? What trends and opportunities can we expect in the future?
2. Engaging stakeholders through workshops: Which measures work well, which do not, and what new, inspiring ideas can we develop together?
3. Implementing ideas: Applying both existing and new biodiversity measures within the crafts and construction sectors to enhance biodiversity in practice.
4. Creating a practical handbook: Developing an accessible guide for the crafts sector that outlines biodiversity measures, their benefits (e.g., subsidies, increased insect diversity), and potential challenges (e.g., additional costs).

During the Live Partner Meeting on October 1–2, all partners** of the Craft2Biodiversity project gathered in Villach, Kärnten, Austria, hosted by FH Kärnten (Carinthia University of Applied Sciences).

The event opened with a presentation by Vid Švara, Senior Researcher at FH Kärnten, titled “Why is biodiversity essential for human well-being and what measures can promote it?” Vid emphasized that biodiversity is not only vital for nature itself but also for ecological health, economic resilience, human well-being, sustainability, and climate change adaptation.

Following this, MCI and Vivius presented their progress on the Status Quo Report, part of Work Packages 1 and 2. The second day continued with in-depth discussions on these Work Packages and brainstorming sessions on upcoming workshops.

The meeting concluded with a workshop led by Anna Hollerer and Marta Polizzi from the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Management of Conservation Areas, who presented their inspiring project Biobox — a creative initiative designed to bring people closer to nature.

A special thanks goes to Evan and Almuth for organizing such an inspiring and productive partner meeting. We look forward to welcoming everyone to MCI in March for the next gathering!

Current status of the project:

• Literature search on biodiversity and the status quo has been completed
• Trend Analysis on Future Trends has been completed
• Expert interviews are currently held
• 360° Workshops are planned

*The flower beds increase the number of insects and pollinators, biodiversity within the area.

** All partners include: LVH-Bidung und Service Gen. – Bozen (IT); MCI Management Center Innsbruck – Tirol (AT); Vivius Konsortial – Bozen (IT); FH Kärnten – Carinthia (AT); Confartigianato Imprese Vicenza – Vicenza (IT)