PERFORM Performance Metrics | Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Beyond its essential value to the planet, biodiversity plays a critical role in shaping the resilience and long-term viability of real estate portfolios. Diverse ecosystems provide necessary ecosystem services such as air and water purification, pollination and climate regulation, which are crucial for maintaining the overall health of properties and surrounding areas.
At the portfolio level, recognizing the importance of biodiversity requires understanding the interconnectedness between natural ecosystems and the built environment. Properties situated within biodiverse landscapes benefit from them as well, attracting tenants and visitors. Biodiversity can serve as a buffer against climate-related risks (e.g., flooding, extreme temperatures, etc.) while safeguarding property values and minimizing insurance liabilities.
Incorporating biodiversity considerations into real estate portfolios requires a holistic approach that goes beyond compliance with regulations. It involves strategic land management practices (e.g., habitat preservation, green infrastructure development, sustainable landscaping, etc.) to optimize environmental performance while simultaneously adding more value to the portfolio. Additionally, creating partnerships with local conservation organizations and engaging with stakeholders in biodiversity initiatives can further enhance the reputation and social impact of real estate investments. Prioritizing biodiversity allows property owners and investors not only to contribute to environmental conservation but also position themselves for long-term success in an increasingly sustainable and resilient built environment.
One performance metric is available in the “Biodiversity” category:
Protected and/or Restored Biodiverse Habitat
Protected and/or Restored Biodiverse Habitat
INTENT
To conserve existing natural areas, to enhance biodiversity to restore damaged areas and to provide thriving spaces for local wildlife.
METRIC DEFINITION
Protected and/or Restored Biodiverse Habitat
Land and aquatic resources within or around properties in the real estate portfolio that are protected and/or restored and maintained sustainably to support and promote biodiversity, enhance ecosystem health and minimize environmental impact.
UNITS OF MEASURE
Area: square feet, square meters, acres or hectares.
Percentage: Percentage of protected and/or restored biodiverse habitats across portfolio.
VERIFICATION SCOPE
Performance Approach A (absolute performance): Verification of the area or percentage area of protected and/or restored biodiverse habitat with sustainable site maintenance across the defined portfolio for the reporting year.
Performance Approach B (performance change): Verification of the change from a baseline year in the percentage of protected and/or restored biodiverse habitat with sustainable site maintenance across the defined portfolio.
REQUIREMENTS
Provide the total area of protected and/or restored biodiverse habitats under sustainable site maintenance for the reporting year (Performance Approach A) and the reporting year and a baseline year (Performance Approach B). For percentage of protected and/or restored biodiverse habitat, provide the total site area for the portfolio. The portfolio site area should include both buildings and any land associated with the buildings.
Describe methodologies, standards, frameworks or tools used to determine the total protected and/or restored biodiverse areas, if applicable. Acceptable standards and tools include but are not limited to:
Protected habitats include land and aquatic ecosystems that serve as habitats for threatened or endangered species, or species of concern. Restored habitats include previously damaged land, or land that has experienced negative ecological impacts, and has been restored to promote biodiversity.
Both protected and restored habitat areas should include native and/or adapted vegetation and areas where soil has been restored. They should be free of invasive species, have limited site disturbance and protect threatened and endangered species or species of concern. Protected and restored habitats can include green roofs and pollinator gardens in addition to larger habitat areas. Monoculture habitats must be excluded from the total biodiverse habitat area calculations.
Protected and restored habitat areas should also be managed with sustainable site maintenance practices to conserve existing ecosystems and maintain the benefits they provide. Site maintenance practices can include protecting biodiversity, including native plant and animal species, water resources and soils; minimizing erosion and sedimentation; avoiding the use of pesticides; using soil amendments or mature stable compost instead of chemical fertilizers; using integrated pest management (IPM); having a multi-year control and management plan for invasive species; supporting resource recovery efforts and the proper disposal of organic waste; limiting or eliminating carbon emitting maintenance equipment; collaborating with ecologists, indigenous communities and local stakeholders to help protect and restore areas; purchasing sustainable materials and products that avoid biodiversity loss, and more.
VERIFICATION EVIDENCE
Portfolio-Level Documentation:
Policies: If applicable, provide documentation (e.g., policies, reports, letter from CEO, etc.) indicating the organization’s commitment to biodiversity, protecting and/or restoring biodiverse habitat areas and maintaining these areas sustainably.
Methodology: Provide documentation describing the methodologies used in determining and assessing biodiverse habitats across the portfolio, including:
How the data was obtained and how the assessment findings were implemented.
Portfolio-level plans for site maintenance or habitat management, if applicable.
Teams responsible for developing and implementing the overall biodiversity strategy for the portfolio.
Property-Level Documentation:
Property-Level Data: Using the PERFORM Property-Level Data Form, indicate the total protected and/or restored biodiverse habitat areas with sustainable site maintenance, for the reporting year (Performance Approach A) and baseline year and reporting year (Performance Approach B). If reporting percentage of biodiverse habitat area, provide the total site area for each property. Alternative documentation (e.g., spreadsheets prepared for other reporting entities or internal tracking sheets, etc.) may be provided if it includes the same information as the PERFORM Property-Level Data Form.
Property-Level Sample Documents: Provide the following documentation for a sample of SQRT(n) properties, where ‘n’ is the total number of properties in the portfolio. A list of properties selected for sampling will be provided during the portfolio creation process via the Multiple Property Upload Template.
Site plans or other documentation showing building footprints, restored and/or protected native/adapted vegetation area under sustainable site maintenance, plant species, other ecologically important features, and other relevant site conditions.
Site maintenance plans or policies indicating how the biodiverse habitats are being managed.
Documentation showing biodiverse habitat area calculations.
Any other site level supporting documentation for that property as applicable such as:
Completed biodiversity assessments with specific biodiversity indicators and results of assessments
Ecological assessments.
Relevant permits, agreements or certifications related to conservation and/or restoration activities.
Integrated Pest Management plans including plans for multi-year control of invasive species for any plant listed as an invasive species in the local area.
Qualifications of professionals involved in the above-mentioned assessments, restorations and management.
Alternative documentation showing achievement of SITES certification or compliance with LEED BD+C: NC v4.1 - LEED v4.1 Protect or Restore Habitat and LEED v4.1 O+M SS Credit: Site Management may be provided in lieu of property-level documentation.
CALCULATION & DOCUMENTATION GUIDANCE
Percentage of Protected and/or Restored Biodiverse Habitat Areas:
Identify and Assess Relevant Habitat Types Identify and define the types and quality of habitats based on ecological characteristics, conservation priorities (e.g., connectivity, keystone species, etc.), and management objectives. This should include a minimum of two out of the following categories: tree, shrub, and ground cover, but might include natural habitats like forests, wetlands, riparian areas and marine ecosystems as well as restored or rehabilitated habitats that were previously degraded (e.g., pollinator gardens). Lawns and turf grasses qualify as adapted vegetation only if they can survive without mowing, fertilization, pesticides and irrigation.
Map Habitat Boundaries Consider mapping tools and geographic information systems (GIS) to determine the boundaries of protected and/or restored habitats based on available data, aerial imagery, field surveys and ecological assessments. It is important to clearly define the limits of each habitat type to accurately quantify its area and distribution across the portfolio.
Calculate Total Habitat Area Calculate the total area of each protected and/or restored habitat type by summing areas of individual habitat patches or polygons for each property in the portfolio. This might involve spatial analyses such as area calculation, polygon overlay and buffer analysis to account for habitat fragmentation, connectivity and edge effects.
Assess Site Maintenance Status Determine the maintenance status of each protected and/or restored habitat type in the portfolio based on whether it is actively maintained or supervised for conservation or restoration. Organizations should consider site maintenance activities such as habitat restoration, an IPM plan, invasive species control, pollution control and wildlife monitoring. An integrated, inclusive, and participatory process that helps bring together all stakeholders for a particular space should be utilized to support benefit sharing and stewardship opportunities for local communities (e.g., partnerships or benefit agreements).
Quantify Managed Habitat Area Sum the areas of protected and/or restored habitats across all properties in the portfolio. Exclude areas that are not actively maintained or managed, or do not meet the criteria for protected and/or restored habitat.
Exclude Non-Qualifying Areas Exclude lawns that do not survive without mowing, fertilization, pesticides and irrigation. Monocultures do not qualify as biodiverse habitat.
Express Results Express the total area of protected and/or restored habitat with active site maintenance as a proportion (%) of the total site area of the portfolio.
Performance Change in Biodiverse Habitat Area:
Performance change between the reporting year and a baseline year is calculated for this metric using the percentage change formula:
RY = Reporting year value BY = Baseline year value
Performance Change in Percent Biodiverse Habitat Area:
Performance change between the reporting year and a baseline year is calculated for this metric using the percentage point change formula:
RY = Reporting year value BY = Baseline year value
REFERENCES
TERMINOLOGY
Habitat: The area or natural environment in which an organism or population normally lives. A habitat is made up of physical factors such as soil, moisture, range of temperature, and availability of light as well as biotic factors such as the availability of food and the presence of predators (Source: SITES).
Portfolio Site Area: Sum of total site area (including building footprint and all land) across all properties within the portfolio.
Protected Habitat Areas: Land and any aquatic ecosystems (e.g., wetlands) that are identified as a habitat for species that are threatened or endangered, or for species that are of particular concern.
Restored Habitat Areas: Land that has been previously damaged or has had negative ecological impacts and has been restored to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.
Sustainable Site Maintenance: Site maintenance practices to conserve existing ecosystems and habitats and maintain the benefits they provide. Site maintenance practices can include protecting biodiversity, including native plant and animal species, water resources and soils; minimizing erosion and sedimentation; avoiding the use of pesticides; using soil amendments or mature stable compost instead of chemical fertilizers; using integrated pest management (IPM); having a multi-year control and management plan for invasive species; supporting resource recovery efforts and the proper disposal of organic waste; limiting or eliminating carbon emitting maintenance equipment; collaborating with ecologists, indigenous communities and local stakeholders to help protect and restore areas; purchasing sustainable materials and products that avoid biodiversity loss, and more.
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