In industrial, mining, data centre and energy projects, there is a growing desire to identify nature values at an earlier stage. The earlier potential nature-related risks are identified, the more options remain available in the planning process.
In major industrial, mining, data centre and energy projects, the importance of impacts on nature is constantly increasing. At the same time, the expectations of project developers, investors and authorities have changed, as there is a desire to identify nature-related risks earlier, reduce impacts more effectively and ensure project acceptability already at the early planning stage.
According to Heli Nukki, Group Manager of Nature Services at Sitowise, there is a growing need in industrial projects to make use of nature data already in the early stages of project development, before more detailed surveys are conducted.
- Our clients’ interest is to ensure that projects progress as smoothly as possible. When risks related to nature values are identified at an early stage, it is possible, for example, to consider alternative location options before plans have progressed too far. At that point, impacts can still genuinely be reduced rather than simply reacted to afterwards.
In industrial and energy investments, this ability to anticipate risks can save time and reduce surprises that might otherwise emerge at later stages.
In industrial and energy investments, the ability to anticipate issues can save time and reduce surprises that might otherwise emerge at later stages.
Pauliina Wäli, Sitowise
For many operators, the challenge lies in the volume and availability of information. How can areas where nature values may pose a risk to project progress be identified? Where can impacts be prevented already at the planning stage? How can potential compensation or restoration needs be assessed at an early stage of a project?
To address these needs, Sitowise has developed a service that enables nature data to be utilised earlier and more effectively in project planning.
- The development work has focused particularly on identifying nature values using geospatial data. By utilising extensive geospatial datasets, we can form a preliminary assessment of an area’s habitat types and their ecological condition even before field surveys are carried out, says Pauliina Wäli, environmental specialist and biologist in Sitowise’s Nature Services.
In practice, this means that project developers receive information at an early stage about the kinds of nature values that may be present in the planning area and where more detailed surveys should be targeted.
- In industrial and energy investments, this kind of ability to anticipate issues can save time and reduce surprises that might otherwise emerge at later stages, Pauliina Wäli adds.
Early information helps to avoid situations where a project becomes more difficult to advance during later planning, permitting or implementation stages.
Heli Nukki, Sitowise
Recent reforms to Finland’s Nature Conservation Act have increased interest in ecological compensation and various measures aimed at improving the state of nature. For many operators, however, the topic is still relatively new. Although there is a willingness to compensate for impacts on nature, the practical methods of implementation and impact assessment can seem challenging.
- The new Nature Conservation Act introduced voluntary ecological compensation into legislation. At the same time, a broader understanding has emerged that improvements to the state of nature can be carried out credibly and measurably. Clients are now looking for ways to reduce the impacts of projects and strengthen their acceptability, explains Pälvi Salo, Senior Specialist in Sitowise’s Nature Services.
In major energy, mining and data centre projects, taking nature values into account is an essential part of ensuring project acceptability and successful implementation.
When nature values are understood sufficiently early, alternative locations, routes and technical solutions can be considered before plans are finalised. At the same time, it is possible to identify areas where impacts are lower or where nature values can be taken into account cost-effectively. The service brings nature data together into a single view and visualises how nature values are distributed across the entire project area, making it easier to identify potential risk areas and locations requiring further investigation. Nature data thus becomes part of risk management.
- Early information helps to avoid situations where a project becomes more difficult to advance during later planning, permitting or implementation stages. It also supports dialogue with authorities, landowners and other stakeholders, says Heli Nukki.
Assessing large areas of land is often laborious. Project areas may cover tens or hundreds of hectares, and there may be several alternative locations.
When nature data can be produced using a consistent methodology across extensive areas, comparing different alternatives becomes considerably easier. Decision-making can then be based on transparent and comparable information.
This supports project developers, municipalities and landowners alike when the aim is to identify areas, for example, for restoration, improvements to the state of nature or future nature value markets. According to Heli Nukki, the service makes it possible to form an overall picture much earlier than has been possible using traditional methods.
- If a client has several different sites or extensive land areas to assess, they benefit from quickly gaining an understanding of where the most significant nature values are and where more detailed surveys should be focused. The aim is to make a difficult subject easier to understand and help the client make better decisions.
Sitowise designs and implements solutions that support organisations’ nature-related goals and integrate them into their sustainability strategies. Its expertise ranges from planning nature-related work, measuring biodiversity and conducting project assessments to ecological compensation.
Making use of nature data at an early stage helps identify nature-related risks in good time and facilitates the smooth progress of industrial, energy and data centre projects.
