08-09 SBRISK0410 Hyder.qxp 18/3/10 11:29 am Page 9
All businesses rely on ecosystem services to function
some alterations to the building to allow But does biodiversity have to represent a and strategies as part of its corporate
the roosts to remain after the conversion cost – are there opportunities associated responsibility agenda. We developed an
took place, but all of the work needed to be with better management of biodiversity? over-arching framework for its UK
done during the winter, when the bats were Certainly there are CR benefits around business based on the types of asset it owns
elsewhere in hibernation, and needed to be relationships with customers, regulators and manages and then carried out audits at
complete before the bats came back to and other stakeholders and potentially a sample of each of the asset classes,
breed in the summer. access to capital. However in some cases, developing action plans for all of those
Because we had completed our surveys there could be savings in cash terms. The sites. Hammerson will continue to develop
well in advance and fully understood this management of sites to benefit biodiversity these and roll them out across their
constraint, we could get the appropriate is not necessarily complex or intensive. business, giving consideration to the
licences and programme the works Indeed it may simply represent a relaxation proposed short-, medium- and long-term
accordingly. If we hadn’t known about the in a current maintenance regime, as one of biodiversity benefits offered while being
existence of the roost beforehand, but had the significant risks to biodiversity in urban prepared to invest in nest boxes, managing
discovered it as works were starting in the or semi-urban settings is ‘over-tidying’. watercourses on its sites, and building
summer, the project could have been set Some examples of typical management relationships with local community groups.
back by six months or more. prescriptions might include: decreasing the Biodiversity isn’t the simplest concept
Once you know what the issues are on a frequency of grass cutting to allow the for responsible businesses to understand,
particular site, then you can develop a grasses to flower and set seed; allowing but in many cases, it is simple to address.
biodiversity action plan for the assets in hedges and planting areas to grow taller to No expensive technological solutions are
question. This doesn’t need to be a long or provide opportunities for nesting birds; or required, but sympathy for the existing
complex document, it just needs to set out allowing some areas to regenerate naturally environment around your site and an
what the issues are and how they will be with locally-native species, rather than understanding of how you can contribute
managed to prevent damage to, and importing ornamental plants. All of these to the bigger picture. As David Ross
preferably to enhance, the natural resources would represent cost savings. Brower said, there is no business to be
of the site. Biodiversity Action Plans Beyond the immediate costs savings, done on a dead planet. Biodiversity may
(BAPs) have been developed in the UK at there are capital projects that can have not be on the balance sheet yet, but it is
the national, regional and local scales since relatively short paybacks, such as the retro- firmly on the agenda. Regulation will
the Rio Convention in 1992, and many fit of green roofs or walls. These – as well certainly tighten in view of the failure to
public sector organisations have followed as providing habitat for a range of insects reach our 2010 target, but pressure from
suit. The Highways Agency and Welsh and birds – can manage run-off, extend customers and other stakeholders is likely
Assembly Government, for example, have roof lifespan and provide significant to be stronger, and smart companies are
both developed BAPs for the management insulation, resulting in lower cooling loads getting their houses in order.
of their estates. As yet, very few private in the summer.
sector organisations have done so, and the Some organisations do recognise the Dr Stephanie Wray CEnv FIEEM is
reasons why not are obvious – there is no need to include biodiversity as part of their an ecologist and the managing director
legal or policy incentive to do so and in licence to operate. We recently advised the of Hyder Consulting’s environment
such difficult economic times business can’t European real estate company, division.
afford to spend on any non-core projects. Hammerson plc, on biodiversity policies > www.hyderconsulting.com
SB FutureProof ❘ April 2010 9
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16