World Biodiversity Association onlus

What World Biodiversity Association onlus does

World Biodiversity Association onlus (WBA) is an Italian nonprofit association founded in 2004 and headquartered in Verona, Italy, with 51–100 employees. Operating under the legal entity WBA Project SRL impresa sociale unipersonale, the organization pursues biodiversity research, conservation, and education through three principal activities: annual naturalistic expeditions to biodiversity hotspots that contribute species discoveries to global cataloging, direct conservation actions including the purchase of tropical forest parcels in Ecuador (50 hectares acquired through the Progetto Biodiversità program raising over €105,000 for Fundacion Otonga), and a scientific publishing program that has produced 49+ titles since 2008 across six specialized series.

The organization's core proprietary asset is the Biodiversity Friend® certification standard, a registered trademark applied to biodiversity assessment in beekeeping and agricultural contexts, supported by a portfolio of branded products including Top Bar hives, bat boxes, and insect hotels. Technology infrastructure consists of a bilingual WordPress e-commerce platform (Italian and English) limited to domestic Italian shipping, with payment processing via PayPal and bank transfer, and a multi-channel social media presence. Distribution extends internationally through co-publishing with Cierre Edizioni and distribution partner Antiquariat Goecke & Evers in Germany.

WBA operates a diversified nonprofit revenue model combining individual memberships (€25/year with voting and participation rights), tax-deductible donations eligible for Italian tax benefits, the Italian 5x1000 tax designation mechanism, publication sales (€4.75–€85.50 per title), beekeeping equipment sales, conservation program contributions (€1,000–€2,000 per hectare of Ecuadorian forest), and consulting services. Customer segments include naturalists and researchers, nature enthusiasts, students and schools, and beekeepers, served through community-led and event-driven go-to-market approaches anchored by the annual WBArt.9 Award conference and Sustainability Week.

Name

World Biodiversity Association onlus

Legal name

WBA PROJECT SRL impresa sociale

Website

https://biodiversityassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

World Biodiversity Association onlus is a Verona-based Italian nonprofit founded in 2004 that conducts biodiversity research through scientific expeditions, runs direct forest conservation programs in Ecuador, and publishes 49+ scientific titles. It serves members, researchers, students, beekeepers, and donors via its Biodiversity Friend® certification and publishing program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA), Conservation, Research & Volunteer Experiences (THAJAIAJ), Citizen Science & Conservation Volunteer Tourism Programs (On-Site) (THAAAFAH)

Keywords

• Biodiversity conservation
• Scientific publishing
• Environmental education
• Sustainable beekeeping
• Nonprofit association

Headquarters

HQ city

Verona

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees of €25 per member provide recurring revenue and entitle members to participate in assemblies, initiatives, receive discounts on publications, and propose activities.
2. Publication Sales: Sales of scientific and educational publications across multiple series: Memoirs on Biodiversity, WBA Handbooks, WBA Monographs, Biodiversity Friend, WBA Education, and Biodiversity Pages. Prices range from €4.75 to €85.50 for publications.
3. Donations: Voluntary monetary contributions from supporters, with tax benefits (19% tax deduction up to €2,065 or 10% of income up to €70,000). Accepts bank transfers, PayPal, postal orders, and checks.
4. Forest Purchase Program: Progetto Biodiversità allows supporters to contribute to rainforest preservation by purchasing forest parcels or supporting related activities, with over €105,000 raised for Fundacion Otonga.
5. 5x1000 Tax Designation: Italian taxpayers can designate 5x1000 of their tax to WBA, providing a significant nonprofit funding mechanism in Italy.
6. Consulting Services: WBA offers consulting and services related to biodiversity assessment, environmental impact evaluation, and conservation planning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

World Biodiversity Association onlus is an Italian nonprofit association that advances biodiversity conservation through three integrated pillars: scientific research via annual naturalistic expeditions (contributing to species discovery and cataloging), direct conservation actions such as purchasing and protecting rainforest in Ecuador, and environmental education through a scientific publishing program (49+ titles across multiple series) and training activities. It sustains these activities via annual memberships, donations, publication sales, sustainable beekeeping equipment, and the proprietary Biodiversity Friend® certification standard.

Product overview

World Biodiversity Association onlus operates a publishing and e-commerce platform offering scientific publications on biodiversity, natural history, and environmental conservation. The product portfolio includes multiple publication series (WBA Handbooks, Biodiversity Friend, WBA Monographs, Memoirs on Biodiversity, WBA Education, Coedizioni), beekeeping equipment (Top Bar hives, bat boxes, insect hotels), and membership/donation programs supporting forest conservation. The offering functions as a platform combining editorial products with conservation-related merchandise and support programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Biodiversity Friend: A certification standard and editorial series for biodiversity conservation and sustainable practices, including beekeeping standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 105,000 € raised for rainforest preservation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Accademia Nazionale Italiana di EntomologiaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Co-publisher of Italian Apiculture, a comprehensive volume on Italian beekeeping history and honey diversity. Represents academic collaboration for scientific publishing.
• Cierre EdizioniminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Co-publishing partner for certain publications, such as Fiori delle Prealpi. Represents WBA's collaborative approach to expanding editorial reach and distribution.
• Fundacion OtongacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership with Fundacion Otonga in Ecuador for rainforest preservation. WBA's Progetto Biodiversità has raised over €105,000 for Fundacion Otonga, enabling the purchase of 50 hectares of Otonga forest. Giovanni Onore, President of Fundacion Otonga and WBA Honorary Member, has acquired approximately 2,000 hectares over 30 years.
• Falegnameria Legni DenisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of Top Bar hives (mod. base, mod. con finestra, mezza arnia) and components for the beekeeping program. Provides physical products that support WBA's sustainable beekeeping initiatives.
• Antiquariat Goecke & EversminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution partner for select publications, particularly for the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Europe handbook, handling sales outside Italy.
• Agricultural Schools (Istituti Agrari)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner schools in the Progetto Biodiversità that produce forest seedlings for the rainforest conservation program, engaging students in conservation activities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wba_social
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WBA_social
• Facebookfacebook.com/wba.biodiversity
• Instagraminstagram.com/wba_social
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-biodiversity-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about World Biodiversity Association onlus