Key Answers on where to start with your certification journey for ISO 17298.

Before implementing ISO 17298, organizations must understand the standard's requirements and their own biodiversity context. Speeki provides initial advisory services helping organizations understand how ISO 17298 applies to their specific operations, sectors, and geographic locations. We help you define the appropriate scope for your biodiversity approach—determining whether to apply it across all operations or focus initially on sites with highest biodiversity materiality, whether to include value chain activities and sphere of influence, and how to set boundaries that balance ambition with organizational capabilities. We conduct preliminary biodiversity context reviews examining your proximity to critical habitats, presence in biodiversity-sensitive regions, sector-specific biodiversity pressures, existing environmental or sustainability initiatives that can support biodiversity integration, and stakeholder expectations around nature-related performance. This getting started phase includes gap analysis comparing current biodiversity-related policies and actions against ISO 17298 requirements, identifying what's already in place that can be built upon and what needs to be developed. We help you understand the business case for biodiversity management including regulatory drivers (emerging nature disclosure requirements, biodiversity due diligence legislation), investor expectations (TNFD adoption, nature-related risk integration), operational risks (ecosystem service dependencies, supply chain nature risks), and market opportunities (nature-positive differentiation, green finance access). The getting started phase establishes realistic timelines for ISO 17298 implementation considering organizational size, biodiversity management maturity, data availability, and resource constraints, typically ranging from 6-18 months depending on scope and starting point.

Effective ISO 17298 implementation requires building organizational capability to understand biodiversity concepts, assess nature-related impacts and dependencies, and manage biodiversity systematically. Speeki delivers training programs covering biodiversity fundamentals (ecosystem services, biodiversity drivers and pressures, the DPSIR framework), ISO 17298 requirements and how they apply to your organization's context, biodiversity impact and dependency assessment methodologies, biodiversity risk and opportunity identification, the mitigation hierarchy and biodiversity action planning, setting SMART biodiversity objectives and selecting appropriate indicators, stakeholder engagement on biodiversity matters, and biodiversity performance monitoring and reporting. Training is designed to different organizational roles: executive leadership training on biodiversity as strategic risk and opportunity, governance implications, and board oversight responsibilities; operational manager training on implementing biodiversity actions, integrating biodiversity into site management and procurement decisions, and monitoring performance; ESG and sustainability team training on conducting materiality assessments, using tools and frameworks (TNFD, CSRD. IFRS), and preparing for certification audits; and supply chain team training on assessing supplier biodiversity impacts and integrating biodiversity into procurement practices. We provide practical training using your organization's actual activities, locations, and value chains rather than generic examples, helping teams understand specifically how biodiversity manifests in your operations—whether that's water dependencies in beverage manufacturing, pollination dependencies in agriculture, land use change impacts in property development, or raw material sourcing impacts in fashion and textiles. Training includes hands-on workshops developing initial impact and dependency assessments, drafting biodiversity objectives, and designing action plans, building confidence and capability that accelerates subsequent implementation phases.

The application phase transforms ISO 17298 requirements into operational reality across your organization. Speeki provides implementation support helping you establish the documented biodiversity management system ISO 17298 requires. This includes conducting comprehensive biodiversity impact and dependency assessments across your scoped operations, systematically identifying material ecosystem service dependencies (provisioning, regulating, cultural, supporting services), material biodiversity impacts using recognized driver classifications (land/sea use change, direct exploitation, climate change, pollution, invasive species), and associated biodiversity-related risks (physical, transition, systemic) and opportunities. We help you prioritize impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities based on materiality, stakeholder expectations, organizational capabilities, and local biodiversity context, ensuring limited resources focus on highest-priority issues. Implementation includes developing your biodiversity ambition statement reflecting organizational vision and values, setting SMART biodiversity objectives that balance fundamental objectives (desired biodiversity state outcomes like species population increases or habitat restoration) and means objectives (management actions like land management changes or procurement policy modifications), creating detailed biodiversity action plans following the mitigation hierarchy (avoid, minimize, restore, offset), establishing monitoring indicators using the DPSIR framework, and defining stakeholder engagement processes. We help integrate biodiversity management with existing systems (ISO 14001 environmental management, ISO 26000 social responsibility, enterprise risk management), ensuring biodiversity becomes embedded in business processes rather than operating as isolated initiative. Implementation includes piloting actions at selected sites, testing monitoring methodologies, refining indicators based on initial data, and establishing continual improvement mechanisms ensuring the biodiversity approach remains dynamic and adaptive as organizational context, scientific understanding, and stakeholder expectations evolve.

Before the formal certification audit, Speeki conducts readiness assessments verifying your biodiversity management system meets ISO 17298 requirements and identifying any gaps requiring remediation. Our readiness assessment examines documentation completeness (scope definition, impact and dependency assessments, risk and opportunity analyses, biodiversity ambition and objectives, action plans, monitoring indicators, stakeholder engagement records, performance data), evaluates whether materiality assessments appropriately identify and prioritize significant biodiversity matters using credible methodologies and scientific data, reviews biodiversity objectives for SMART criteria compliance and appropriate ambition, assesses action plan quality including mitigation hierarchy adherence and feasibility, examines indicator selection ensuring appropriate coverage of drivers, pressures, states, impacts and responses, and evaluates monitoring data quality and performance analysis. The readiness assessment includes interviews with personnel responsible for biodiversity management, site visits to locations included in scope examining actual implementation of biodiversity actions, review of stakeholder engagement evidence, and assessment of continual improvement mechanisms. We identify any non-conformances or gaps that could prevent certification, provide specific recommendations for remediation, and guide you through corrections before the formal audit. The readiness assessment typically occurs 1-3 months before planned certification audit, allowing sufficient time to address identified issues while maintaining momentum. This pre-audit verification significantly increases certification success rates by ensuring organizations enter formal audits with robust, compliant biodiversity management systems rather than discovering gaps during certification audits that delay or prevent certification, requiring expensive re-audits and damaging credibility with stakeholders expecting timely certification achievement.

Speeki's ISO 17298 certification audit provides independent third-party verification that your biodiversity management system meets the standard's requirements. The certification audit occurs in two stages: Stage 1 is a documentation review examining your biodiversity management system documentation (scope, policies, impact and dependency assessments, risk analyses, action plans, objectives, indicators, procedures) to verify completeness and identify any fundamental gaps before the main audit; Stage 2 is the comprehensive implementation audit involving site visits, personnel interviews, stakeholder engagement verification, and evidence examination to confirm the biodiversity management system operates effectively in practice. Our auditors examine whether your scope appropriately defines boundaries and applicability, whether impact and dependency assessments identify material issues using credible methodologies, whether biodiversity objectives meet SMART criteria and reflect appropriate ambition, whether action plans follow the mitigation hierarchy and demonstrate feasibility, whether monitoring indicators appropriately track both management actions and biodiversity outcomes using the DPSIR framework, whether stakeholder engagement processes involve relevant interested parties appropriately, and whether continual improvement mechanisms enable adaptive management. We conduct site visits to locations within scope, observing biodiversity actions implementation, reviewing monitoring data collection processes, interviewing personnel responsible for action implementation, and examining local ecological context integration. The certification audit concludes with formal findings classifying any non-conformances (major non-conformances preventing certification until resolved, minor non-conformances requiring corrective action within specified timeframe), identifying opportunities for improvement, and issuing the ISO 17298 certificate if conformance is demonstrated. Certification is typically valid for three years subject to annual surveillance audits maintaining conformance.

ISO 17298 biodiversity management system implementation and certification typically requires 6-18 months depending on organizational size, complexity, biodiversity management maturity, geographic scope, and resource availability. Organizations with existing environmental management systems (ISO 14001) or sustainability frameworks can leverage established processes, potentially reducing implementation timelines to 6-9 months. Organizations starting without existing biodiversity initiatives or systematic environmental management typically require 12-18 months. The implementation timeline includes: initial gap analysis and scoping (4-6 weeks) establishing certification objectives, defining scope boundaries, and assessing current state; training and capability building (6-8 weeks) providing biodiversity fundamentals, ISO 17298 requirements, and assessment methodologies to key personnel; biodiversity impact and dependency assessment (8-12 weeks) conducting systematic analysis of ecosystem service dependencies, biodiversity impacts, and associated risks and opportunities across operations and value chains; ambition setting and objective definition (4-6 weeks) establishing biodiversity ambition, setting SMART objectives, and gaining organizational commitment; action plan development (8-10 weeks) designing biodiversity actions following the mitigation hierarchy, defining monitoring indicators, establishing implementation responsibilities, and allocating resources; implementation and monitoring (12-24 weeks) executing biodiversity actions, collecting baseline performance data, refining indicators based on initial results, and demonstrating system operation; readiness assessment (2-4 weeks) conducting pre-certification audit identifying remaining gaps and verifying conformance readiness; and certification audit (2-3 weeks) completing Stage 1 documentation review and Stage 2 implementation audit. Organizations should plan implementation timelines considering seasonal factors affecting biodiversity monitoring (breeding seasons, migration periods, vegetation cycles), stakeholder engagement timelines (coordinating with conservation organizations, local communities, and other interested parties), and business cycles (budget allocation periods, strategic planning timeframes). Expedited certification is possible for smaller organizations or limited scopes but should not compromise biodiversity assessment rigor or action plan quality, as superficial implementation undermines certification value and creates recertification difficulties.

As an independent certification body, Speeki maintains strict separation between implementation consulting and certification services to ensure audit independence and credibility. We do not provide implementation consulting, gap remediation services, or advisory support that would compromise our ability to independently certify your biodiversity management system. However, Speeki provides robust training and technology resources that enable organizations to successfully implement ISO 17298 requirements.

Speeki delivers comprehensive ISO 17298 training programs covering biodiversity management fundamentals, standard requirements, assessment methodologies, action planning, and monitoring approaches. Our training is educational in nature—teaching you how ISO 17298 works, what conformance requires, and what methodologies exist—rather than prescriptive consulting telling you specifically what your organization should do. Training includes biodiversity concepts and ecosystem services, ISO 17298 clause-by-clause requirements, biodiversity impact and dependency assessment approaches, risk and opportunity identification frameworks, the mitigation hierarchy and action planning principles, SMART objective setting, indicator development using the DPSIR framework, stakeholder engagement approaches, and preparing for certification audits.

Speeki's Engage® technology platform provides powerful tools supporting ISO 17298 implementation and ongoing biodiversity management. Engage® enables systematic biodiversity data collection, impact and dependency tracking, risk assessment documentation, action plan management, indicator monitoring, performance dashboards, stakeholder engagement documentation, and certification preparation. The platform helps organizations structure their biodiversity management system aligned with ISO 17298 requirements, maintain documentation accessible during certification audits, track implementation progress, monitor performance data over time, and prepare for surveillance and recertification audits. Engage® is designed for certification preparation—providing structure and tools—without providing prescriptive consulting that would compromise independence. Organizations can use Engage® independently or work with third-party consultants for implementation support, then engage Speeki solely for training and certification services.

ISO 17298 certification costs vary based on organizational size, number of sites, geographic scope, value chain complexity, and current biodiversity management maturity. Certification investment includes several components: training costs (typically USD 5,000-15,000 depending on number of participants, customization level, and delivery format—in-person versus virtual); implementation support (USD 20,000-100,000+ depending on support model—full implementation partnership versus targeted technical assistance—and organizational complexity); readiness assessment (USD 5,000-15,000 for pre-certification gap analysis and conformance verification); and certification audit fees (USD 10,000-50,000+ depending on organizational size, number of sites audited, and scope complexity). Small organizations with single sites and limited value chain scope may invest USD 40,000-80,000 total for training, implementation support, and certification. Medium-sized organizations with multiple sites or complex value chains typically invest USD 80,000-200,000. Large multinational organizations with extensive operations, global supply chains, and comprehensive scope may invest USD 200,000-500,000+ particularly when implementing biodiversity management across numerous geographies with varied ecosystem contexts. Beyond direct certification costs, organizations should budget for internal resources (staff time for assessments, action planning, monitoring, documentation, audit participation), biodiversity actions implementation (habitat restoration projects, land management changes, supply chain interventions), monitoring and data collection systems (ecological surveys, indicator measurement, performance tracking), and stakeholder engagement activities (community consultations, conservation partnership development).