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BREEAM biodiversity solutions

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How BREEAM supports biodiversity and enables the construction industry to protect and restore nature for the benefit of local communities.

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About BREEAM biodiversity

We aim to protect and restore nature. Our vision is for a global built environment industry that acts as a source of recovery. This is vital if we are to reverse the damage that has already been done to biodiversity.

BREEAM enables you to create meaningful benefits for local communities, avoid biodiversity losses and be transparent and ethical.

How BREEAM supports biodiversity:

Developing strategies that restore and protect biodiversity.
Aligning with initiatives such as the SDG’s to help apply high-level nature protection principles.
Supporting nature to improve the health and wellbeing of people living and working in buildings

Biodiversity in context

World leaders have made ambitious commitments to protect the natural world in the coming years, including the protection of 30% of the Earth’s lands and oceans by 2030. The post-2020 global biodiversity framework aims to transform society’s relationship with biodiversity to ensure that we live in harmony with nature by 2050. BREEAM provides a practical solution to make this a reality.

Biodiversity in BREEAM

BREEAM’s strategy towards the natural environment is based on the following propositions:

Experience of reducing the impact of the built environment globally

Natural systems are inherently complex. BREEAM uses consistent principles that are applied globally to make sure that benchmarks are meaningful, whilst recognising local expertise.

BREEAM certifies buildings in 89 countries and counting, and we use this expertise to inform our approach to biodiversity.

Connecting networks

With increased urbanisation, ecosystems become more fragmented and populations of species more vulnerable to local extinctions.

BREEAM supports connectivity and ecological networks by encouraging stakeholders to consider the wider zone of influence, the value of wildlife corridors and features that can support local species and ecosystems.

Driving nature recovery with the built environment

Driving nature recovery with the built environment

BREEAM already provides a pathway towards biodiversity protection, enhancement and recovery by following the mitigation hierarchy and delivering a meaningful net-benefit for biodiversity.

Strategic Ecology Framework for biodiversity

BREEAM has worked with stakeholders, including professional bodies and experts in ecology and landscape architecture to produce a consistent framework for approaching ecological protection and enhancement across lifecycle stages and sectors. BREEAM’s approach to the natural environment builds upon the Strategic Ecology Framework (SEF) to develop principles and evolve its approach to ecology across the world by recognising local policies and pushing further to go beyond mitigation towards a focus on biodiversity net-gain and nature recovery.

Train with BREEAM

Train with us to provide built environment sustainability solutions and learn how to support projects in achieving their biodiversity goals. Our BREEAM training courses teach you how to use the world’s leading green building tool to achieve sustainability success. Millions of assets all over the world are registered with BREEAM and starting their journey to sustainability success.

Browse our BREEAM courses