GRI 304 Biodiversity
GRI 304 covers biodiversity impacts — operational sites in or near protected areas, significant impacts on biodiversity, and habitats protected or restored. As nature risk rises up the investor agenda, GRI 304 is increasingly scrutinised alongside ESRS E4 and TNFD.
GRI 304 covers biodiversity impacts — operational sites in or near protected areas, significant impacts on biodiversity, and habitats protected or restored. 304-1 Operational sites in or adjacent to protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas: List of sites with location, size, and biodiversity value designation.
The four GRI 304 disclosures
304-1 Operational sites in or adjacent to protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas: List of sites with location, size, and biodiversity value designation.
304-2 Significant impacts of activities, products and services on biodiversity: Description of direct and indirect impacts — land use change, pollution, overexploitation, invasive species, climate change.
304-3 Habitats protected or restored: Size and location of all habitats protected or restored; whether success of restoration is approved by independent external professionals.
304-4 IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species: Total number of species in each IUCN Red List category (Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern) affected by the organisation's operations.
GRI 304 vs ESRS E4 — key differences
GRI 304 and ESRS E4 cover overlapping territory but ESRS E4 is significantly more demanding. GRI 304 requires site identification and impact description. ESRS E4 additionally requires: quantitative metrics on land use and ecosystem condition; financial effects disclosure (E4-6); biodiversity targets; and value chain biodiversity impacts.
For CSRD reporters also using GRI: your ESRS E4 site assessment and impact analysis satisfies GRI 304-1 and 304-2 with some reformatting. The ESRS E4 metrics (land use by type, ecosystem condition) go beyond GRI 304 requirements.
The TNFD LEAP approach (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare) structures the assessment that feeds both GRI 304 and ESRS E4.
Using IBAT for protected area screening
The IBAT (Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool) is the standard tool for GRI 304-1 site screening. It allows you to upload site coordinates and identify proximity to: IUCN Protected Areas, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Ramsar Wetlands, and Key Biodiversity Areas.
IBAT requires a subscription — pricing varies by organisation size. Free alternatives include the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) available through Protected Planet, and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) for species data.
For GRI 304-4 (IUCN Red List species), use IBAT or direct IUCN Red List queries for species known to occur in your operational areas.
Frequently asked questions
Does GRI 304 apply if we have no manufacturing sites?
Low materiality for pure service businesses, but not automatically excluded. Data centres (land use, water for cooling), office campuses, and logistics hubs can all have biodiversity impacts. Complete a brief screening before excluding GRI 304.
What counts as 'adjacent to' a protected area?
GRI 304 does not specify a distance threshold. Common practice is 1 km for terrestrial sites and the relevant catchment area for water-adjacent sites. Use the IBAT buffer zone analysis to identify sites within 1 km of protected area boundaries.
How does GRI 304 connect to the Global Biodiversity Framework targets?
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) sets targets including 30x30 (protect 30% of land and sea by 2030). GRI 304 disclosures directly evidence your contribution to or impact on these targets. SBTN (Science Based Targets for Nature) is developing company-level guidance aligned with GBF.