BS 42020 biodiversity; Designing and managing robust ecosystem services.
Increased frequency of storm events, higher rainfall due to jet stream, effects of climate change, increased development and recreation pressures, all require habitat design that is sensitive to the demands placed on the landscape. These “eco system services” are what the landscape offers us in return for our use of it.
In order to be able to use ecosystem services effectively, habitat design and landscape management, will help to replenish landscapes which have become fragmented due to the pressures placed on them. Spaces will become more coherent and resilient to change. Landscapes which have been designed and managed to compensate for development effects, cannot be overestimated. Landvision specialise in this type of habitat design. We design and manage landscapes which are robust enough for future generations to enjoy.
The value of habitat design is considerable. Good design with a sound ecological basis lies at the heart of mitigation design, in environmental statements and in landscape planning. It allows development to take place without any net loss of biodiversity. The most desirable outcome is a positive increase in biodiversity, where space allows for the creation of interlinking of wild areas and appropriate management to enhance ecology in the long term.
BS;42020; Mitigation and habitat design.
Developments placed in inappropriate locations can be mitigated for, but this does require considerable amounts of landscape design input and investment. Without habitat design, to renew and to manage landscapes in a long term sustainable way.
To be effective, an understanding of the ecology of sites which are to be developed, is used in habitat design. The scale of the impact of each development is examined. The mitigation is drawn up to mitigate this impact on the ecology and landscape. Sound ecology knowledge is used by Landvision, to determine levels of impact and the appropriate levels of mitigation on a site by site basis.
If there is no investment then, eco system crash- for instance, landslides, soil erosion, flooding and water pollution are consequences which will have a negative effect on lives and landscapes. So, this BS 42020; Biodiversity – Code of Practice planning and development and allied work, is vital to the ecology of landscapes and to saving time and money for the communities which depend on and live in them.
Building more resilient landscapes for communities.
Landvision use habitat design to move towards sustainability. To set aside areas, to produce less fragmented landscapes, which will thus be ecologically more stable in the long term. This is because, in order to be more resilient to change, our landscapes require sensitive design based on a site’s ecology, suited to the landscape and to the communities who live there.
Habitats require sound landscape management, to sustain the resilience of the landscape ecology and its protected species. For instance, pond creation is invaluable in enhancing site ecology. Ponds attract a wide variety of wildlife and have landscape and health benefits- introducing water, tranquillity and an enhanced feeling of well being for residents, providing recreational opportunities.
Maintenance and management of landscapes.
Habitats, such as ponds, also require regular maintenance in order to maintain their ecology and to keep them healthy. For more information on how Landvision can help you to offset your biodiversity losses, by habitat and landscape design and specific landscape management, call; 01892 782200 now, or go to the Landvision Contact page