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What is biodiversity (and why it enhances your site)?
27/01/2020
Biodiversity.
Created in 1985, it’s one of many long words that ecologists love. But what does it actually mean? And why does it matter in the context of land development?
A quick definition
If I say that biodiversity describes the variety of life on Earth, you’ll quickly conjure up an image of David Attenborough. That’s a pretty good start. He’d be pleased.
Having evolved over millions of years, biodiversity concerns animals, plants, fungi and even microorganisms such as bacteria. Humans have recorded around 2.16 million species, but the likely total is closer to 8 million. Possibly much more.
Biodiversity in context
Kept in perfect balance, biodiversity contributes to a healthy and sustainable planet. All the species are interlinked. They don’t just exist for the sake of it. They work together to create a healthy ecosystem.
And that matters to every single human on the planet.
A rich biodiversity pollinates plants and provides food. Without bees, fruit and nuts would be scarce. In fact, without plants, there would be no oxygen. Biodiversity also keeps water clean and lowers air pollution (with the help of trees). Biodiversity even helps to protects us against weather extremes and other natural disasters on earth.
If you want a health benefit, biodiversity provides important plant extracts for medicines to keep us healthy. There’s no end to what biodiversity gives us.
Take bats as an example, they’re more useful than you think.
More than 500 plant species rely on our night friends to pollinate their flowers. Many of these are fruit-bearing. Bats are also great pest controllers, eating thousands of insects every night. And just like birds, bats are instrumental in spreading the seeds of trees and many other plants. Their excrement providing a ready-made fertiliser.
But the reality for biodiversity is dire. It’s in dramatic decline. Land-use change, deforestation, over-fishing, intensive agriculture, over-consumption of natural resources and pollution have all had an impact. The outlook is bleak.
The benefit to your development
When it comes to responsibility, we all have a part of play in protecting biodiversity. It’s no secret there’s a climate crisis. Humans have done untold damage to biodiversity. In the UK. In every country.
So, first and foremost, we have a responsibility to respect and protect biodiversity in everything we do and work in harmony with it. This doesn’t mean additional cost. It does mean careful planning when changing land use.
Why should you?
Well, for one, your customers want it. They welcome the opportunity to live with a pocket of nature on their doorstep, however small. Natural woodland, pond life, open meadows. It all adds value to everyday life.
It can add value to your bottom line too. Developments that evolve with biodiversity as a priority stand out. They’re in demand. They offer something more: a natural play area, space to roam, wildlife to admire.
Biodiversity net gain
A recent move by the government looks set to make biodiversity an even more important component of land development, in a bid to help climate change.
Following a lengthy consultation process, the imminent Environment Bill will be used to mandate a biodiversity net gain from all land development work. This means that your project must leave the site in better shape than it was when you started. Green corridors, tree planting and nature spaces have become more important than ever.
Biodiversity is the lifeblood of our existence on this planet. Our progress must work with it, whether we’re enforced to do so, or not.
Want to learn more about biodiversity? Read some of Dr Bett’s articles:
