Coral growing on ropes, thriving underwater, part of Banyan Group's marine conservation efforts for biodiversity.

Respect Biodiversity

Our Approach

We seek to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, starting from the way we design and build—employing stringent risk assessments to minimise negative impacts on sensitive habitats and areas of high biodiversity around our hotels and resorts.

Restoration and research projects play an important role—we have established conservation labs in the Maldives and Indonesia, and we partner with institutions and experts on research to gain understanding of and inform appropriate conservation and management strategies.

Our food supply chain presents an opportunity to improve biodiversity by seeking certified-sustainable sources.

We actively promote awareness of biodiversity issues, the appreciation of nature, and the adoption of sustainable travel behaviours—encouraging our guests and stakeholders to participate in and support our efforts.

A home for marine conservation

Our Marine Lab is the first resort-based facility of its kind in the Maldives. Welcoming marine biologists from around the world, it is a centre for conservation, a source of sustainable livelihoods for the local community, and a place of learning and inspiration for our guests.

Our Stories

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Costal and Island Ecosystem

Banyan Group views conservation as an expression of care for the places that sustain us, not as an obligation. In close collaboration with scientific, governmental, NGO and other partners across our portfolio, we are working to restore wetlands, reefs and woodlands, protect species such as birds, turtles and crabs, and revive ancient trees, mangroves and corals.

At Taihu Lake Wetland National Park in Suzhou, ecological floating islands help improve water quality and create habitats for fish and migratory birds.

In Yunnan, Banyan Tree Lijiang and Banyan Tree Ringha support bird conservation at Lashi Lake, while at Laguna Bintan, more than 70 tree-planting activities since 2007 have engaged over 7,000 participants in restoring local ecosystems.

Marine Ecosystems

Our long history of marine conservation continues to evolve, building on pioneering efforts in the Maldives dating back to 1996 and the opening of the first resort-based Marine Lab at Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru in 2004.

At Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, coral restoration using microfragmentation techniques continues to support reef recovery, while in Sanya Bay, over 300 coral colonies are being cultivated and transplanted to help restore degraded reef ecosystems.

At Angsana Teluk Bahang and Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui, marine education, turtle conservation and reef surveys are also helping guide future conservation efforts.

Inspiring Care for Nature

Nurturing curiosity about the natural world is as important as our efforts to protect it. As we deliver our conservation and restoration work, our hotels are also creating teaching moments
and long-term learning opportunities that invite guests, associates and local communities to also discover—and care for—the biodiversity around them.

The Marine Science Foundational Course, developed by Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru and Dhawa Ihuru in collaboration with Maldives National University, is an exceptional collaborative initiative in this area.

Banyan Tree Nanjing Garden Expo and Banyan Tree Huangshan are engaging guests and communities through wildlife awareness and conservation programmes, while Laguna Phuket is helping younger generations connect with nature through hands-on biodiversity learning.

Challenges

Biodiversity continues to present some of the most significant sustainability- related opportunities for our business, along with important challenges:

Enhancing Biodiversity Across Diverse Ecosystems
Operating across varied ecosystems presents challenges in developing a consistent approach to biodiversity management, particularly where baseline data and ecosystem mapping remain limited.
Building Capacity for Nature-Positive Action
Scaling biodiversity and restoration initiatives requires deeper ecological expertise at property level, alongside continued investment in training and capability building across our teams.

Next Steps

Banyan Group will advance from strategic commitment to operational delivery by implementing its biodiversity programme across a defined portfolio. At these properties, we will:

Establish ecological baselines — We will strengthen biodiversity measurement by improving data collection and developing consistent indicators across our properties.

Reduce pressure on ecosystems — We will implement site-specific initiatives that help reduce environmental pressures and support ecosystem recovery.

Advance rewilding and restoration — We will expand restoration efforts within and beyond our properties through partnerships with local communities and conservation organisations.

Engage our guests in conservation — We will create more opportunities for guests to participate in biodiversity monitoring and restoration efforts.

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Uplift Communities

Our host communities share their culture, craft, and spirit with our guests—so we give back through volunteering, charitable giving, and community programmes that build strong individuals.

Our focus on 3 Es—Education, Engagement, and Employment—helps us maximise our impact on local communities and support disadvantaged groups.

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Support Wellbeing and Development

We believe that when our associates are well cared for, they in turn can care for our guests. So we take measures to ensure that our work environment is nurturing, inclusive, and supportive.

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Promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and championing the importance of diversity—creating opportunities for our associates, guests, and host communities to thrive as their authentic selves.

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Take Climate Action

Climate change has far-reaching impacts on our destinations including on weather conditions, water security, and biodiversity. Because we want a future where everyone can thrive, we are playing our part in making hospitality a low-carbon industry.

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Conserve Water

Water is a precious resource and safeguarding it for local communities is our priority. We are therefore committed to using water efficiently, and capturing and recycling as much of it as we can.

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Reduce Waste

With global waste projected to increase by 70% by 2050, adopting a circular economy and addressing food loss and waste is a matter of urgency. We strive to minimise the waste our operations generate while maximising composting, recycling and reuse. Being responsible stewards of our destinations, we also support community waste management efforts.

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