INSIGHTS
Strategic priorities in modern sustainability management
The landscape of sustainability management is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by technological advancements, increasing regulatory pressures and evolving stakeholder expectations. Our research has identified three key themes that are shaping the strategic priorities of sustainability leaders across various industries.
B. Technological enablement of sustainability efforts
3. Leveraging technology for biodiversity management
The challenge of managing and improving biodiversity has found a valuable ally in technology. New tools, data and approaches are enabling organisations to better understand, monitor and protect ecosystems within their areas of influence.
Geospatial technology has emerged as a game-changer in biodiversity management. Edward Barlow from Local Partnerships LLP emphasises its crucial role: "Geospatial technology and historical records can play a vital role in supporting fair and accurate baselines for biodiversity improvements." This technology allows for precise mapping and monitoring of habitats over time, providing invaluable data for conservation efforts.
Geospatial technology and historical records can play a vital role in supporting fair and accurate baselines for biodiversity improvements.
Edward Barlow
DIRECTOR - CLIMATE, LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS LLP
We're developing a digital model for a unique habitat in our area, which helps us plan and manage environmental impacts proactively. This allows us to simulate potential environmental changes and plan our interventions more effectively, ensuring that we can manage our operations with minimal ecological disruption.
Andy Brown
CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, ANGLIAN WATER GROUP
The construction of digital twins for environmental management represents a cutting-edge approach. Andy Brown from Anglian Water Group shares their pioneering efforts: "We're developing a digital model for a unique habitat in our area, which helps us plan and manage environmental impacts proactively." Such models allow for the simulation of potential environmental changes, enabling more effective planning and intervention.
In addressing the challenges posed by biodiversity net gain regulations, technology plays a critical role. "The biodiversity net gain regulations present both opportunities and challenges," notes Edward Barlow. He suggests that technology could help prevent 'gaming' of the system by providing evidence of historical land conditions: "The key is providing evidence of changes over time, particularly using historical data and imagery."
Alistair Blackmore from Bidwells points to the potential of advanced technologies in optimising land management: "We're interested in exploring how geospatial technology and GeoAI could potentially help us optimise these installations and better manage our own land bank assets." This approach could revolutionise how organisations balance development with biodiversity conservation.
The integration of AI and machine learning into biodiversity management offers exciting possibilities. Philip Tamuno from Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust envisions AI-enabled systems that could predict and model biodiversity impacts in real-time, allowing for more responsive and effective conservation strategies.
We're interested in exploring how geospatial technology and GeoAI could potentially help us optimise these installations and better manage our own land bank assets.
Alistair Blackmore
HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY, BIDWELLS LLP
Despite our challenging central London location, we've developed creative solutions to enhance biodiversity. We have long established volunteer-managed and UCLH charity supported rooftop gardens across most of our buildings, offering valuable green spaces for both patients and staff. Our dental hospital features themed plots maintained by different teams, encouraging engagement with nature while promoting wellbeing.
Elliott Westhoff
HEAD OF SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMME, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (UCLH)
Urban planning presents another frontier for geospatial technology application. Westminster City Council is pioneering the use of spatial mapping to preserve viable building stock and prevent unnecessary demolition. "We're particularly interested in post-war buildings from the 1950s and 60s—concrete structures that are structurally sound but may not meet current premium office space standards," explains Nikolova. "These buildings can often be retrofitted, but they're often overlooked in preservation efforts." This approach demonstrates how geospatial technology can support more sustainable development decisions in urban environments.
Healthcare institutions are finding innovative ways to incorporate biodiversity in urban settings. "Despite our challenging central London location, we've developed creative solutions to enhance biodiversity," notes Elliott Westhoff from UCLH. "We have long established volunteer-managed and UCLH charity supported rooftop gardens across most of our buildings, offering valuable green spaces for both patients and staff. Our dental hospital features themed plots maintained by different teams, encouraging engagement with nature while promoting wellbeing."
Remote sensing technologies are increasingly being employed to monitor biodiversity at scale. While not explicitly mentioned by our interviewees, these tools allow organisations to track changes in vegetation cover, detect illegal activities in protected areas and monitor wildlife populations without causing disturbance.
As biodiversity loss continues to be a pressing global issue, these technological solutions offer hope for more effective management and conservation. By providing accurate data, enabling predictive modelling and facilitating proactive management, technology is becoming an essential tool in efforts to protect and enhance biodiversity.
