The Natural Resources Stewardship Circle (NRSC) is a non-profit organization launched in October 2008 in Grasse (France) by its first members who drafted a declaration of intent. This founding text or Resolution Text was based on the principles of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Global Compact, and the International Labour Organization. The seminal document foretold the establishment of a shared best practices guideline.
These Guidelines were indeed drafted in cooperation with representatives of indigenous and local producer communities. They were signed in Paris by all members of the NRSC in October 2010. Hailed by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, these Guidelines were presented at the Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Nagoya, Japan.
Following these Guidelines, as members, we strive to develop collective actions and unifying projects which share values and meaning with our businesses, our suppliers, and our clients. These actions involve every employee in our companies, create change in our in-house practices, and develop projects of lasting and sustainable cooperation.
Our missions
Conscious of the increasing scarcity of natural resources and the impoverishment of local peoples involved in the production and supply of natural resources, and based on the agreed Resolution Text and Guidelines, the Association’s objective is to act collectively:
- to promote the Guidelines developed using the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as a foundation, and in cooperation with plant producers, representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, and which define the criteria and bases for fair and sustainable cooperation between the parties while protecting the biodiversity and ecosystems of the territories concerned;
- to become and remain informed on the status of supply chains, territories, peoples, and savoir faire in jeopardy and seek the ways and means to respond to those challenges;
- to develop initiatives and collective projects for “ethical” sourcing in critical supply chains;
- to support organizations and companies which adhere to the values and practices of the Association and assist them in strengthening their commitments;
- to develop and implement research, training, technological, and/or industrial development programs with the intention of responding to the objectives of the founding text;
- to organize debates and discussions to bring about initiatives, create projects, develop cooperative relationships, and share experiences and know-how.
