As recognition of the nature crisis grows, organisations across the world are working to understand and manage their impact on, and exposure to, nature-related risks. Many are also mapping out opportunities for change.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is charting an ambitious course to put nature at the heart of decision making across its portfolio. Building on our ongoing collaboration as a key sustainability consultant, TII appointed Arup to develop a biodiversity accounting tool to measure and report on the biodiversity impacts of new and existing linear infrastructure projects such as roads, greenways and active travel projects.

Demonstrating “biodiversity net gain” can prove challenging. Defining a ‘biodiversity metric’ is a complex undertaking, meaning a single metric can fail to reflect the rich diversity of wildlife and habitats across countries. Europe is on the move, with Ireland publishing its National Biodiversity Action Plan, and the EU formally adopting the Nature Restoration Law earlier this year. Meanwhile, England has developed a legally binding target to deliver 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for developments in planning.

So how can we help TII develop a biodiversity accounting tool for ecological assessments, biodiversity auditing and route selection?

Following an in-depth data and literature review, our Ecology and Digital experts are developing a tailored, evidence-based tool for biodiversity accounting to be applied on a project-by-project basis and across TII’s entire portfolio. The tool will support route option selection, environment impact assessment and biodiversity auditing to inform legacy compensation and enhancements.

Nature reporting: data integration for holistic assessments 

The new tool will integrate several data layers, allowing TII to score the distinctiveness, condition, and strategic significance of habitats within a project area. It can be used across project stages from option appraisal through to assessment, incorporating the necessary level of detail at each stage. For options appraisals, the tool will use geospatial data from the new National Land Cover Map (LCM) developed by Tailte Éireann and Ireland’s Environmental Protection Agency to remotely identify habitats; while the preferred option stage will include bespoke ecological surveys on habitat condition designed by Arup.

The team are also investigating how the tool might consider protected species, as linking species with habitats can help assess the strategic significance of a particular habitat in specific locations. 

Our work will lead to the development of a new biodiversity metric for TII that is tailored to assessing and monitoring biodiversity in Ireland, expanding on the Fossitt habitat classification to reflect the characteristics and uniqueness of national habitats.

In practice: route option appraisal

The tool will feed into the traditional option appraisal system, where different route options are explored and compared during the initial stages of a project. Using the Tailte LCM, it can help appraise the biodiversity impacts of different route options. By combining habitat area with habitat distinctiveness and condition (along with other multipliers like the strategic importance of certain habitats), the tool scores options and helps identify the best possible routes to avoid and minimise biodiversity impacts. 

The tool will also be able to operate at scale, taking a holistic view of TII’s portfolio: if delivering no net loss or BNG is challenging in one project, it can help identify alternative suitable sites for intervention. Specialist ecologists will have a significant role to play, as the tool will need qualitative input to feed into the score to better address the complexity of biodiversity.

It’s now for nature

The scale of the tool makes it possible for TII to assess future projects and to report on them once implemented, as well as to assess its network of existing projects and managed land. By gaining an organisation-level understanding of biodiversity impacts and opportunities, TII can contribute more effectively to nature restoration and future proof the organisation for emerging biodiversity reporting requirements.