Awareness of biodiversity in infrastructure and port construction
Awareness of biodiversity in infrastructure and port construction
Awareness of biodiversity in infrastructure and port construction projects is crucial for responsible land use and water construction. These projects permanently alter the environment, making a strong awareness of biodiversity essential throughout the project lifecycle. Comprehensive assessment of the ecological impact is necessary to ensure sustainable development and compliance with regulatory procedures.
A high level of awareness of biodiversity in infrastructure projects
A high level of awareness of biodiversity influences infrastructure and port construction from multiple perspectives, including permitting, public acceptance, and project financing. For instance, EU environmental and financing regulations require biodiversity considerations to be embedded in infrastructure projects.
At Sweco, we strengthen awareness of biodiversity by identifying project-specific risks and opportunities and by promoting impactful, future-proof infrastructure and port development. The earlier awareness of biodiversity is integrated into a project, the more effective and cost-efficient the outcome.
Did you know that more than half of the world’s GDP depends on biodiversity? What kinds of trends are emerging to safeguard biodiversity, including within the financial sector?
Do you need help with strategies to increase awareness of biodiversity in construction projects?
Building awareness of biodiversity early in the planning phase leads to more sustainable and resilient solutions. Contact a Sweco expert and make awareness of biodiversity a core part of your infrastructure or port development strategy.
Integrating biodiversity awareness into infrastructure and port development
At Sweco, we provide strong expertise in transport infrastructure, land-use planning, and port development. Our work covers the design of streets and tramway systems as well as related green infrastructure and stormwater solutions. Our capabilities also extend to marine construction, including quays, breakwaters, and shoreline structures.
Our goal is to combine high-performing infrastructure with sustainable construction in ways that enhance biodiversity in infrastructure and port construction. Strengthening awareness of biodiversity throughout the planning process is essential for achieving these outcomes.
Considering biodiversity in infrastructure, port, and water construction projects requires multidisciplinary expertise and seamless coordination throughout the planning stages.
Our biodiversity services
- Biodiversity strategies, roadmaps and guidelines: We develop a plan for how biodiversity can be systematically integrated into business or project objectives, land-use governance, and decision-making at all levels of planning.
- Ecological and environmental impact assessments (EIA): Required environmental impact assessments are carried out at an early stage of planning to ensure the most comprehensive solutions possible.
- Land-use planning: Biodiversity and ecological connectivity are taken into account as part of spatial planning, urban structure development, and zoning.
- Landscape design: We design environments that support biodiversity and ecological networks. In addition, we plan greening measures for existing environments.
- Sustainability management: Every infrastructure and port project can be managed with due consideration of impacts on nature and climate. Alongside schedule, quality, and cost, it is possible to integrate emissions and biodiversity impact indicators that are monitored in real time throughout all project phases.
- Biodiversity in street, road, tramway, and area planning: Harmful impacts are minimized; green areas, stormwater solutions, and nature-based construction are incorporated into planning from the outset.
- Water construction, dredging, and fairway planning: We minimize the impacts of construction on aquatic ecosystems.
- Ports and protection of port environments: We create solutions to manage wastewater and other emissions while safeguarding the living conditions of port-area ecosystems.
- Studies and planning for ecological compensation and restoration: We support organizations in identifying compensation needs and in designing effective, impactful restoration measures.
- Project and stakeholder communications: We produce clear, verifiable, and transparent materials for authorities, investors, residents, and other stakeholders.
Biodiversity awareness: Strong foundation for green finance and strategic sustainability
Well-planned and well-managed biodiversity work strengthens the conditions for green financing and supports the achievement of strategic environmental goals.
The EU Biodiversity Strategy aims to direct at least EUR 20 billion annually to conservation and restoration projects. Our experts help you leverage sustainable development opportunities and prepare for upcoming regulation—while promoting biodiversity awareness across your entire organisation and projects.
Why should biodiversity be considered already in the planning phase?
We support the integration of biodiversity from the strategic stage onwards and ensure that it remains an integral part of planning throughout the entire project development process.
Cost-efficiency
Early integration of environmental considerations can prevent costly changes in later stages of the project. Preliminary planning streamlines project progress, reduces risks, and supports the achievement of budgetary and scheduling objectives.
Long-term prespective
Solutions that promote biodiversity — such as green corridors, nature-based structures, and the preservation of ecosystem services — help maintain natural functions and reduce the environmental impacts of construction.
Competitiveness and acceptance
Considering biodiversity from the very beginning can support the smooth progress of projects. It can improve opportunities for securing funding, strengthen competitiveness in tender processes, facilitate permitting, and help meet the expectations of authorities and clients more effectively.
Biodiversity awareness supports financing and permitting
Biodiversity awareness supports financing and permitting
EU funding under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) supports strategic investments in the development of transport, energy and digital infrastructure. This, along with several other funding programmes, requires increasingly detailed assessments of ecological impacts. Applications often require a statement from the ELY Centre confirming that biodiversity has been duly taken into account.
At Sweco, we support infrastructure and transport projects as well as ports throughout the entire permitting process: we prepare expert studies, impact assessments and documentation for authorities, and act as an interface for cooperation with ELY Centres and other authorities.
Sweco’s experts help ports prepare for biodiversity. Get in touch with us!
Ville Kuitunen
Ports and marine Lead