Nature & Biodiversity - Supply Chain Sustainability School Limited

Development and the increased modernisation of our lives have caused an alarming decrease in the diversity of our natural world. There are a number of human activities which are responsible for this, including:

Overexploitation;
Land use change/ habitat destruction
Introduction of invasive species;
Pollution to air, land and water; and
Climate change.

A culmination of these factors has led to a decline in biodiversity by an average of 69% globally (WWF). It’s important that all businesses in the built environment play their part in increasing biodiversity and creating a healthy natural world.

Australia is facing a significant biodiversity crisis, with over 2,200 species currently listed as threatened, including iconic animals like the koala and Tasmanian devil. Habitat destruction is major threat; nearly 2 million hectares of koala habitat have been cleared since 2011, primarily for agriculture. Additionally, 91% of the Great Barrier Reef’s surveyed reefs have experienced coral bleaching due to rising sea temperatures.

Nature & Biodiversity - Sustainability Short

Learn about the huge opportunity that the built environment industry has to deliver nature and biodiversity benefits on our projects

Nature and Biodiversity – Sustainability Short

Enhancing nature on site

The construction industry has a massive opportunity to increase nature.

Nature enhancement isn’t limited to new developments. Refurbishment and maintenance scheduling for the existing built environment can significantly influence biodiversity. By incorporating ecological features and management regimes, spaces can be improved to provide habitats for wildlife whilst improving user experiences and contributing to our wellbeing.

So, how can you help?

Consider the following ideas to help you increase the amount of nature on your next project:

Make biodiversity an intrinsic part of project delivery, from the design phase to completion there is lots that you can do.
Consider how nature-based solutions can be used to deliver project infrastructure and provide space for nature.
Understand your local area and develop projects which are sympathetic to, and enhance local biodiversity.
Review your supply chains to understand where your materials come from, and how their production might have impacted biodiversity. Make changes to reduce those impacts if you can.