Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Future Cities

Transcription

1 Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Future Cities 22 March 2017 Holiday Inn London, Kensington Sponsored by: Conference Programme Registration & Tea/Coffee Session 1. Chair: Dr Stephanie Wray CEcol CEnv FCIEEM Introduction, Health & Safety briefing Dr Stephanie Wray CEcol CEnv FCIEEM, CIEEM President Keynote Speaker Tony Juniper CEnv MCIEEM Urbanism, architecture and biodiversity: when nature inspires cities and buildings Marc Barra, Natureparif Future Ready Cities Future Ready Biodiversity Tom Butterworth, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff Tea/Coffee Break Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services at the Heart of Urban Masterplanning and Design Mike Wells FCIEEM, Biodiversity by Design Ltd Ecosystem Services at Elephant Park Ewan Oliver, Lendlease Woodberry Wetlands as a case study for integrating biodiversity and urban regeneration Mathew Frith CEnv MCIEEM, London Wildlife Trust Lunch SESSION 2. Chair Claire Wansbury CEcol CEnv FCIEEM, Atkins Ltd Implementing BREEAM UKs Strategic Ecology Framework, championing an integrated approach, cross sectorial approach Yetunde Abdul, Building Research Establishment (BRE) Designing biodiversity into multi-use urban parks and green infrastructure Peter Shepherd MCIEEM, BSG Ecology The links between biodiversity and storm water management Jeremy Jones, Atkins Ltd Tea/Coffee Break Delivering a green infrastructure action plan for pollinators Jo Wall, TACP Architects Ltd & Kate Stinchcombe, Monmouthshire County Council The biodiversity value of urban hedges and green walls Eleanor Atkins MCIEEM, Staffordshire University (Department of Geography and the Environment) Summary and Close Gary Grant FCIEEM, The Green Infrastructure Consultancy Ltd

2 Abstracts Conserving the people - why we need biodiversity in our towns and cities Tony Juniper A rapidly growing body of research reveals how urban wildlife shapes outcomes that are important to all of us. While encouraging Nature in towns and cities has often been seen as a conservation issue, it is equally a social and economic agenda. By encouraging wildlife into the places where most of us live a range of ever more tangible benefits can be gained. This ever more obvious fact is, however, at best only weakly reflected in planning and housing policy and in the design choices of construction companies and developers. Urbanism, architecture and biodiversity: when nature inspires cities and buildings Marc Barra, Natureparif The decline of biodiversity in urban areas invites us to imagine innovative solutions to preserve or restore biodiversity within cities. This presentation will focus on nature-based solutions in Paris region and show how local actors are using biodiversity knowledge to design policies on urban planning, architecture, or public spaces management. Future Ready Cities Future Ready Biodiversity Tom Butterworth, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff As part of WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff s work on Future Ready we have identified the key trends that will affect the built environment by These cover changes to/in demography, with a larger older population that is more connected but are potentially lonelier, technology, providing us with smart environments and new materials, our resource use, from energy and water efficiency to how we use the space in our cities, climate, leading to warmer, hotter and windier cities; and what we value, with a renewed understanding of what makes us healthy and well. This presentation will set out these trends, explore the implications for biodiversity and, with examples from around the globe, set out the part biodiversity can play in helping make our cities ready for the future. Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services at the Heart of Urban Masterplanning and Design Mike Wells FCIEEM My short presentation shares some key elements of the framework of thought and evidence that I have developed and presented to project sponsors, decision makers, masterplanners, architects, landscape architects, engineers and town planners in the UK and overseas to make this case. The framework includes the exploration of terms often unknown, misused or misunderstood by urbanists. It addresses some of the strategies, policies, research work and guidance documents that together make a powerful economic and social case for mainstreaming of biodiversity in urban design. It also explores through examination of selected projects in which I have had a key involvement, how key achievements were secured and the growing evidence for the resultant benefits. It concludes with a plea for a much deeper level of interdisciplinary understanding amongst all involved in the building and maintenance of cities.

3 Sponsored by: Ecosystem Services at Elephant Park Ewan Oliver, Lendlease Lendlease are using an eco-system services approach to the design of the public realm and buildings at Elephant Park. Through the introduction of features including green roofs, rain gardens and the retention of existing trees we are striving to green the grey and in doing so, create a place for nature and increase biodiversity. Plugging into the surrounding existing green infrastructure of parks and other green spaces is also key to our approach which is to think to beyond the planning boundary Lendlease has a long and proud history of giving equal emphasis to environmental, social and economic outcomes to deliver places that respond to the complex global forces shaping our future, including rapid urbanisation, climate change, inequality and resource stress. In a world of rapid urbanisation, where the built environment contributes approximately 30 per cent of the world s greenhouse gas emissions and consumes around one third of the world s natural resources, sustainable urban regeneration is the benchmark for the future of development. Woodberry Wetlands as a case study for integrating biodiversity and urban regeneration Mathew Frith CEnv MCIEEM, London Wildlife Trust Woodberry Down, built between 1949 and 1972 to house communities displaced by the blitz and slum clearance in east London, had by the 1990s become a typically dystopian problem estate. From 2003 it became the focus of regeneration to replace 1,980 homes with over 5,000 new homes by The estate stands by the Stoke Newington Reservoirs, completed in 1833, which during the 1990s were the focus of a campaign to prevent them being in-filled and developed. The campaign was successful, but East Reservoir remained closed to the public. In 2007 London Wildlife Trust, with support from the reservoir s owner Thames Water, developed an onsite education centre and began working with the ethnically diverse communities of the area. However, Woodberry Down s regeneration plans made little attempt to integrate with the reservoir, so the Trust looking at the opportunities for enhancement developed a vision for the site in 2010 that would upscale its benefits for wildlife, allow people to experience nature close to hand, and inform the landscaping of the estate s regeneration; the Woodberry Wetlands. Working with Berkeley Homes, Thames Water, Hackney Council and others, the Trust shaped and delivered Woodberry Wetlands, which were opened by Sir David Attenborough in April The Wetlands aim to provide an example of biodiversity conservation that relates to the needs of diverse urban communities and attempts to make the best of the challenges of regeneration in a growing city. The presentation will highlight some of the lessons learnt and the opportunities that have arisen since. If you are interested in networking with other CIEEM professionals, attending local field trips and would like to get involved with issues of local concern, join your Geographic Section. Support. Promote. Engage.

4 Sponsored by: Implementing BREEAM UKs Strategic Ecology Framework, championing an integrated approach, cross sectorial approach Yetunde Abdul, Building Research Establishment (BRE) Ecology is one of a series of key sections included across the BREEAM family of schemes, which relate to master planning, infrastructure and buildings. The section encourages project teams to identify ecologically valuable features and opportunities to protect and enhance habitats, and to mitigate unavoidable impacts. In recognition of significant developments in best practice and the BREEAM team at BRE Global have worked closely with CIEEM and with a wide range of stakeholders to identify and develop a consistent strategic framework for evaluating ecology related issues across BREEAM. BREEAM UKs Strategic Ecology Framework was completed in spring It guides and informs BREEAM criteria development, with the aim of achieving the following: This presentation will give an overview of works to date to implement the framework into BREEAM family of schemes, links to ecosystem services and the importance of cross sector communication to support management and maintenance of a biodiverse sustainable environment. Designing biodiversity into multi-use urban parks and green infrastructure Peter Shepherd MCIEEM, BSG Ecology The value of biodiversity assets in urban parks and green infrastructure to people and wildlife is now widely recognised and the demand for the creation and development of wildlife habitats within urban green space has grown significantly in the last 20 years. However, the process and approach to design and the ability to develop wildlife habitat in urban green spaces can vary greatly from one site to another. Designing in biodiversity features can be affected by a number of factors ranging from the status and influence of the ecologist within the professional team through to practical issues associated with each site. This presentation will consider the guiding principles and different approaches that can be adopted to providing biodiversity opportunities in new and established urban parks and green infrastructure drawing on the practical experience of the speaker. Examples will include the new parkland in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, new parkland and green infrastructure in the Hampton areas of Peterborough; and the restoration of Victorian and more recent parks in London and Liverpool. The links between biodiversity and storm water management Jeremy Jones, Atkins Ltd Traditional methods of managing surface water involving the network of drains and pipes are no longer a sustainable solution. During a period of heavy rain, the sewage network can become overloaded by surface water, which can lead to the networks overflowing. In the past, the approach was to build larger pipes in our network and bigger storage tanks to address this, the direction of travel has started to change. Engineers are being forced into developing new approaches to the management of Storm Water. This presentation will explore the development of Green infrastructure and how it benefits bio-diversity. Green Infrastructure or Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in the Urban Environment requires imagination and the collaboration of a whole range of compatible skillsets. Until now the approach to building solutions in this sector has focussed on bespoke engineers. We are now witnessing is the need for ecologists feeding their skillsets into the solutions and thereby enhancing and developing bio-diversity. Aside from the obvious benefits of SuDS such as reducing the need to pump and treat surface water and reducing the risk of flooding there are a number of other plus points such as improving local biodiversity, improving the amenity value, reducing heat island effects and improving air quality.

5 Sponsored by: Delivering a green infrastructure action plan for pollinators Jo Wall, TACP Architects Ltd & Kate Stinchcombe, Monmouthshire County Council Jo Wall and Kate Stinchcombe will discuss the context of the project; the study area, links to national and local policy, links to other projects, why manage for pollinators? The process of development of the GI Action Plan. Tools developed for delivery including: GIS database, PEGS, Case studies, Guidance booklets. How has the action plan been used and what opportunities does it present for the future? The Landscape Institute s President, Merrick Denton-Thompson describes the intentions of the project: it sets out to transform the number of pollinating insects, looking at the whole lifecycle, across numerous landscape types from schools to roadside verges, from public parks to private gardens. The biodiversity value of urban hedges and green walls Eleanor Atkins MCIEEM, Staffordshire University (Department of Geography and the Environment) Green Walls and Urban hedges offer a space efficient method of providing habitat for a range of wildlife in urban areas. This presentation highlights the key findings of 2 studies. One study focuses on the Biodiversity value of urban hedges and the other of Green walls and green façades. Time to upgrade your Does your membership reflect your professional expertise? membership? A higher grade of membership comes with greater professional recognition. As other agencies and organisations make more use of CIEEM s Competency Framework are you ready to take advantage of new opportunities that arise in the sector? If you re thinking about upgrading your membership visit:

6 Biographies Tony Juniper Tony Juniper is an independent sustainability and environment advisor, including as Special Advisor with the Prince of Wales s International Sustainability Unit, Fellow with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and as co-founder of sustainability consultancy group Robertsbridge. He began his career as an ornithologist, working with Birdlife International. Juniper was the first recipient of the Charles and Miriam Rothschild medal (2009) and was awarded honorary Doctor of Science degrees from the Universities of Bristol and Plymouth (2013). Marc Barra Marc Barra holds a diploma in ecology from Paris-Sud University. He works at Natureparif, the regional agency for nature and biodiversity in Paris region. Since 2008, Natureparif aims at involving local actors on biodiversity issues. Natureparif is in charge of an observatory of biodiversity and produce indicators including local species red lists. Marc has published several papers including Climate: Nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation in Paris Region. Tom Butterworth Tom has almost 20 years experience working for wildlife. Over this time, Tom has led practical management of SSSIs, developed local, regional and national biodiversity strategies and policies, led programs of research and managed the delivery of the Government s biodiversity strategy. He started his career in the Natural History Museum in London studying Sri Lankan land snails. More recently, he has worked for Natural England for a period of almost 8 years where he led the organisation s work on Green Infrastructure and, as the Principal Advisor for Biodiversity, oversaw the delivery of Biodiversity Mike Wells FCIEEM Mike Wells is a professional ecologist and ecourbanist, with over 25 years of consultancy experience and over 35 years in ecological science. Mike s key current interests lie in exploring the opportunities for biodiversity restoration and enhancement in the creative gaps between Ecology and other disciplines including Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Civil and Structural Engineering and Art. Mike has practised globally and published widely in relation to the ecological aspects of urban regeneration, masterplanning and design. He is a well-known proponent of achieving positive environmental impacts through development schemes around the world which have won plaudits and acclaim.

7 Sponsored by: Ewan Oliver Ewan is a chartered landscape architect with over 20 years of experience within the industry. He joined Lendlease in 2015 as Public Realm Development Manager on the 2.3 billion Elephant Park urban regeneration project where nearly 50% of this 11-hectare inner city site is comprised of parks, streets and squares. Of particular interest to Ewan is how the direct application of green infrastructure principles and the use of ecosystem services in master planning and detailed landscape design can help to build more liveable, healthy and prosperous places. Mathew Frith CEnv MCIEEM Mathew has almost 30 years experience of land management policy and practice in urban nature conservation with voluntary organisations, public bodies and Government agencies, such as the London Ecology Unit, English Nature and Peabody (a housing trust). He has a particular interest in the relationship between nature and society in towns and cities, which underpins London Wildlife Trust s work in the face of a rapidly growing capital. His favourite bird is the magpie. CIEEM Summer Conference Integrated Management of the Marine Environment 4 July 2017, Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton CALL FOR PAPERS! This one-day conference will explore external impacts on the marine environment and how an integrated spatial planning and management approach can deliver multiple stakeholder benefits. Key elements of a post- Brexit enabling integrated marine management policy and legislative landscape will also be considered. Please contact karenhood-cree@cieem.net for more information

8 Sponsored by: Yetunde Abdul A life scientist by training Yetunde is a Principal Consultant working in the BREEAM team at BRE, the world s leading sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure and buildings. As BREEAMs schemes development manager her work is varied involving project and programme management, strategic engagement and consultation to development projects technical, operational and commercial in focus. She led development of and leads work to implement BREEAM s Strategic Ecology Framework into the BRE family of schemes. Peter Shepherd MCIEEM Peter is a partner in BSG Ecology and has had a long interest in the ecology of cities. His PhD remains one of the few studies of urban plant communities in the UK and early in his career as the conservation officer for the Nottingham Urban Wildlife Scheme he gained experience in managing and enhancing all types of urban green spaces for wildlife. Peter has worked on many projects designing new urban green space, or restoring existing parks. He was the ecologist in the design team that produced the Olympic Park in East London and over the last 15 years worked on building in biodiversity into new green infrastructure for major urban developments in the UK and abroad. Jeremy Jones Jeremy Jones is a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Environmentalist and Chartered Water and Environmental Manager with over 30 years of experience gained in engineering, new technology and environmental projects. He has led the way in developing new approaches to the management of water and storm runoff. He joined Atkins after running his own consultancy for over 17 years and during that time was a specialist consultant to many of the large engineering consultancies, water companies, developers and government at national, regional and local level. Jo Wall Jo is a Director of TACP (UK) Ltd, an environmental consultancy which focuses on landscape architecture, ecology, landscape management and environmental co-ordination, based in South Wales. She has been a chartered member of the landscape architect for 26 years and is a Practitioner member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). She is a CEEQUAL assessor and promotes environmental excellence on all projects. The interdependency of the science and art of landscape has always been important to her work and whilst working in Southern Africa she gained a Field Guide licence for South Africa and Botswana.

9 Sponsored by: Kate Stinchcombe Kate graduated in Ecology and Environmental Management from Cardiff University. She is the Local Biodiversity Action Plan Officer at Monmouthshire and has over 12 years experience in ecology and conservation. Kate is a member of the Green Infrastructure Team which promotes a multi-benefit approach to influence the best possible development schemes and projects for Monmouthshire s landscape, wildlife and people. She wrote the Council s Biodiversity & Ecosystem Resilience forward plan in response to the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 Biodiversity duty. Eleanor Atkins MCIEEM Eleanor has worked in Countryside Management as a lecturer in a land based college for 7 years where she facilitated students to conduct environmental surveys and research for their studies. She is currently part way through a PhD as part of the Green Wall Centre at Staffordshire University with Professor John Dover. Her study is entitled The Biodiversity Value of Urban Hedges and she seeks to quantify the hedgerow resource and assess the wildlife potential offered. NEW! Member Benefiit CIEEM & Wildcare Wildcare, equipment suppliers for professional ecologist and environment managers, now offer CIEEM members discount on some of their most popular and useful products. Log in to the CIEEM member area ( and follow the link to the CIEEM members only page on the Wildcare website. Want to know more? Visit the Wildcare stand here today, at the Spring Conference.

10 CIEEM Spring Conference 2017 Mainstreaming Biodiversity into Future Cities 22nd March 2017 Designing for biodiversity: A technical guide for new and existing buildings Ecology of Urban Environments (2016) Kirsten M. Parris (2013) Kelly Gunnell, Brian Murphy & Dr Carol Williams # PBK HBK # PBK # PBK HBK # HBK # PBK HBK # HBK # PBK # Fold-out 3.50 # HBK # PBK HBK # PBK 1.99* RRP 9.99 # PBK 5.99* RRP 9.99 *While stocks last *offer ends March 31st Everything for wildlife, science & environment customer.services@nhbs.com T +44(0) F +44(0) NHBS, 1-6 The Stables, Ford Road, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5LE, UK

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12 Ecology and Biodiversity at Biodiversity Net Gain s time has come. Biodiversity Net Gain is the process of designing and delivering benefits for biodiversity through development. This has already been adopted by major UK infrastructure companies such as Network Rail and Highways England and by private developers such as Berkeley Group. The UK government has done much of the groundwork by developing the Defra metric which enables biodiversity impacts to be quantified through biodiversity units. At an international scale, countries including Germany, the USA and Australia have had Biodiversity Net Gain principles embedded within their legislation for up to 40 years. WSP Parsons Brinkerhoff is at the forefront of this work. We are working on nationwide schemes with Highways England, Transport for London, and Network Rail as well as on specific infrastructure projects such as HighSpeed 2, Cross Rail 2, East West Rail, A30 and on smaller developments with companies such as Ecotricity. This is an exciting time to be involved in this work and this is just the start: WSP PB sits on the steering group shaping the guidance that is being developed by CIEEM, IEMA and CIRIA; we are working with Natural England and others to explore how this work links with ecosystem services and natural capital assessments; and we are developing metrics for trees and other habitats not covered by the Defra metric. Being in the ecology team in WSP PB means being part of this work. It means getting involved in the design and deliver projects that deliver gains for wildlife. It means informing the development of national guidance and having the opportunity to help create fantastic places for people and wildlife, in collaboration with partners from across all sectors. High Speed 2, the next step. WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff is excited to be involved in various aspects of the ecological assessment, design and delivery of the largest transport infrastructure project in Europe, High Speed 2. This includes the large scale survey and assessment of habitats and species, Ecological Impact Assessment and the design and build of ecological mitigation areas. Challenges include designing and building great crested newt ponds, bat buildings and underground structures, woodland and hedgerow translocation and river realignment as well as undertaking translocation of various species under Natural England mitigation licences. To deliver this work alongside other projects, WSP PB needs you! We are seeking enthusiastic ecologists ready to take on the next challenge and get involved with the delivery of this ground breaking project.

13 We are looking for ecologists at all levels in numerous locations, but in particular we are looking to fill the following vacancies: Basingstoke Senior and Principal Ecologists Birmingham Principal Ecologists Leeds Principal Ecologist Manchester Principal Ecologist Bristol Consultant/Senior Ecologist (Bat Specialist) Exeter Consultant Ecologist Seasonal Ecologists Edinburgh, Manchester x 2, Birmingham x 2, Exeter, Glasgow and Cardiff