Ecological considerations

There is considerable concern in society about ecology and the loss of biodiversity. Overall, there is a greater understanding now than there has ever been of the importance and contribution to life made by natural capital and ecosystem services and how, even at a small scale, these can benefit our quality of life.

In the development industry, there is an increasing awareness of the way potentially negative ecological impacts can be avoided, mitigated and compensated for. Biodiversity offsetting is becoming a more sophisticated tool, and wildlife legislation still plays its part as the backstop for any potentially damaging operations. More flexible ways of applying the legislation, particularly through licensing, are also being tested to ensure a more pragmatic approach.

This section cannot do justice to the full complexity of all these issues. Instead, it is intended to introduce them and demonstrate that construction and development professions play an important part in conserving and enhancing biodiversity.

This section is maintained by Dr Rachel Saunders of Temple.

isurv section: Environmental impact assessment

isurv section: Flood risk

RICS journal article: Five ways surveyors can help nature recover

RICS journal article: Study shows individual farmers can boost wildlife

RICS journal article: Wetland creation aims to boost biodiversity