From mammals to insects , ensuring there is space and consideration for all inhabitants is a sign of a well-designed built environment . Among all our efforts for sustainability , whether that is focusing on waste and pollution or throwing funding at energy and water , we often push biodiversity down the priority list .
F rom the installations of motorway tunnels and bridges to replacing streetlamps with amber or red lights for the encouragement of nocturnal life , integrating wildlife-friendly methods into our own built environment has seen simple solutions with great impact but has been at an unnecessarily slow pace . Not forgetting that the results of pushing wildlife from our habitats whilst destroying their own are not only devastating results for the animals but also for us . In this article , we hear from Dr David Smith , Director of Ecological Planning and Research ( EPR ) on how we can develop our environment while balancing the needs of our wildlife .
The construction industry , while instrumental in shaping our urban landscapes and accommodating a growing population , also bears responsibility to minimise its impacts on wildlife and where possible – to enhance it . Development can lead to habitat destruction , degradation and fragmentation , with consequential repercussions on local ecosystems .
From an ecological perspective , building on intensive agriculture land will often provide more opportunities to minimise harm and leverage benefits while meeting housing needs . This is because intensive farmlands can be ‘ ecological deserts ’, compared to biodiverse
WILDLIFE
From an ecological perspective , building on intensive agriculture land will often provide more opportunities to minimise harm and leverage benefits while meeting housing needs .
www . intelligentbuild . tech 33