C 10–2 Tips Checklist on Location, Surroundings and Characteristics of Sites and Facilities

Introduction
Use the following tips as suggestions for either direct or indirect biodiversity preserving methods:
C 10–2–1 Minimising area used and sealed off
Be sure to check the possibility of using existing buildings for your space requirements before beginning to build new facilities. Consider reorganising space you currently have at your disposal and evaluate renovating existing buildings to suit your needs.

Applicable / Feasible?

Consider "Area Recycling": As a starting point in choosing new site and facility locations consider giving redundant industry sites new uses or filling in construction holes in developed areas.

Applicable / Feasible?

Make sure to keep the sealing of surface area on your sites to the least possible amount. Achieve this for instance, by using turf pavers for your car parks, and thereby ensuring that at least some parts of your site are not completely sealed.

Applicable / Feasible?

Watch out for migratory species that could use your site when you develop your sites.

Applicable / Feasible?

Before beginning construction, obtain expert advice to evaluate whether or not endangered species live in the area you would like to build on.

Applicable / Feasible?

When planning and designing your site, be sure to integrate as many natural landscape elements as possible. Examples of this are tree stands and hedges or water features.

Applicable / Feasible?

Make sure you design your facilities in an open manner to facilitate changing future uses.

Applicable / Feasible?

C 10–2–2 Biodiversity-friendly design of outside areas
Operate your own biodiversity control system in your area. Regularly collect data on local plants and animals found on site with the help of experts (e.g. environmental planning offices, environmental organisations). Analyse the results and in conjunction with the impact of your site in mind (e.g. Hazardous material, noise and light pollution, waste water, etc.)

Applicable / Feasible?

Analyse the sites of your operations and manufacturing locations. Determine what space is actually being used in both areas. Consider converting unused space back into natural habitat.

Applicable / Feasible?

Make sure to preserve species-rich areas (especially old trees) on your property.

Applicable / Feasible?

Allow for vines and creeping plants to grow on perimeter fences or unused walls. Such plants offer birds an excellent place to nest and provide a home for invertebrates. Be sure to use local creeping plants as to not introduce alien/invasive plant sorts.

Applicable / Feasible?

To water your green areas, be sure to use collected rain water.

Applicable / Feasible?

Evaluate how you can design your green areas to be as natural and pristine as possible e.g. through wetlands or fields. Meet with the local environmental agencies and groups to obtain more specific information on how to plan such green areas.

Applicable / Feasible?

Enable biotope cross linking by introducing stepping stone and connection biotopes. Stepping stone biotopes could be pools, fields or groupings of trees, whereas connection biotopes can be made of hedges, ditches and herbal borders. Be sure to use local wood and/or plants. You may even find that stepping stone biotopes, such as hedges, can also function as borders and fences for the site.

Applicable / Feasible?

Make a contribution the local and natural material cycles by leaving natural waste, such as leaves or grass clipping, in place when maintaining your site.

Applicable / Feasible?

Establish plant and animal species in the biotopes and/or green areas on your property and/or in the surrounding areas. Seek out expert advice from local sources to accomplish this.

Applicable / Feasible?

Provide nesting areas for deadwood residing species such as owls, stock pigeons and small mammals.

Applicable / Feasible?

Make sure to account for ecological compensation areas in appropriate locations.

Applicable / Feasible?

Consider joint ecological compensation areas with other businesses in the area. Participate in collective funding pools to enable small and medium sized businesses to contribute to the compensation area, thereby creating habitats that are ecologically more valuable.

Applicable / Feasible?

C 10–2–3 Optimisation of the Transport Infrastructure
Try to take locations that are well-connected to other transport routes and/or public transit options. Consider if your site is reachable by foot and/or bike. This opens up many transportation options to your employees and makes them less dependent up on cars.

Applicable / Feasible?

If it is absolutely necessary to construct new roads to make your site accessible, take into account the impact this building process will have on the local environment, e.g. native plants and animals as well as biotope types and landscape features.

Applicable / Feasible?

When possible, develop your roads with the least amount of sealing as possible. An example of this is to use gravel ways for cars parks used only occasionally and turf pavers or other permeable paving for areas more heavily used.

Applicable / Feasible?

Make an effort to protect migratory species on your premises as well as on surrounding areas. This may require erecting amphibian fences, guiding devices or replacement ponds.

Applicable / Feasible?

Additional Tips
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Helpful Links and Organisations for Detailed Checklist C 10-2

undefinedwww.iucn.org

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) looks for pragmatic solutions for environmental and biodiversity problems.

www.bund.net

Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND - Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland) is one the largest nature conservation groups in Germany. You will find helpful tips and information on environmental and nature protection and much on biodiversity as well.

www.dnr.de

The German Nature Protection Ring  (Deutsche Naturschutzring - DNR) is the umbrella organisation for the nature and environmental protection agencies in Germany. They offer info on biodiversity and nature conservation on their website, as well as comprehensive background info and additional links on these topics. (In German only)

www.nabu.de

The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) has been involved in conserving nature through community action at the national, regional and local level for years. The countless local and district associations in your area can expertly and adequately help you with questions on biodiversity.

www.naturtipp.at

The web page of naturtipp.at provides its visitors with a number of ideas and new information on how local communities, businesses and individuals can protect the environment and its species in real terms. You will also find many realistic examples and tools that can be implemented on your company's premises. (In German only)

www.naturundwirtschaft.ch

The Swiss Foundation for Nature and Business feature businesses that support natural habitat protection and in this way preserve biodiversity. They offer their readers info and ways to participate in such awards programs. (In French and German)

How the Checklists work

With the checklists' various fields of action you will be able to assess your company's situation.  For each field of action, there is a quick check along with multiple other detailed checklists.  Fill in the relevant checklists one after the other.  At the end you can print out and send or email us the completed questionnaire.

Note:

The entries are meant to aid you in your self-evaluation and will not be saved or used by us or any other third party organisation.

 

 

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