Why and how should we measure biodiversity?
In this article, we dive into the critical conversation around biodiversity and its measurement.
My guests are two experts from Ramboll: Samantha Deacon — Global Lead, Biodiversity and Ecosystems and Mette Søs Lassesen — Europe Director for Environment & Health and the Executive Council Member of ULI Denmark.
We explore how international events like COP16—the Conference of Parties dedicated to biodiversity—play a pivotal role in shaping policies, encouraging collaboration, and driving measurable outcomes for nature restoration.
A personal connection to biodiversity
For both Sam and Mette, their professional dedication to sustainability and biodiversity is coupled with personal passions. Mette, responsible for environment and health in Europe at Ramboll, emphasizes how concepts like blue-green infrastructure and livable cities have been integral to her work for years. On a personal level, her connection to nature is nurtured by time spent in her garden, highlighting the nourishing impact of the outdoors.
Similarly, Sam's passion for biodiversity traces back to her childhood love for nature and her academic background in biology and ecotoxicology. Her professional journey has been driven by the goal of raising awareness about the biodiversity crisis and advocating for the restoration of ecosystems. As she explains, this passion fuels her every day, reinforcing the importance of doing what you love.
The Importance of COP16
COP16 stands out as a key event for advancing the global biodiversity agenda. This conference, part of a series of international gatherings, unites governments to create policies and decisions aimed at protecting and restoring biodiversity. However, while COP16 generated numerous positive discussions, it did not entirely meet expectations.
Sam shared insights from her conversations with Denmark's Minister for the Environment, noting that although progress is ongoing, the shift towards ecosystem-based conservation is still in its early stages. Historically, conservation efforts have focused on protecting specific species, often overlooking the habitats they depend on.
COP16 emphasized the importance of preserving entire ecosystems to achieve a more holistic and effective approach to biodiversity.
The role of metrics in biodiversity conservation
A central theme at COP16 was the need for measurable, science-based, and actionable targets for biodiversity. As Sam explained;
What you measure, you can manage.
Metrics allow governments, businesses, and organizations to track their progress against global biodiversity goals, such as those outlined in the Global Biodiversity Framework.
By measuring ecosystems and habitats, policymakers and practitioners can better understand their impact, make informed decisions, and monitor progress. The goal is not just to halt biodiversity loss but to transition towards a "nature-positive" outcome, where restoration efforts lead to net gains for ecosystems.
Ramboll's involvement at COP16
Ramboll's participation in COP16 highlights the importance of corporate involvement in global biodiversity discussions. While not directly part of political negotiations, Ramboll uses such events to:
Stay informed about emerging trends and policies.
Collaborate with thought leaders, partners, and peers.
Share expertise and insights on biodiversity metrics.
Ramboll's commitment to a scientific approach ensures that sustainability efforts are grounded in data and evidence. This is particularly vital for private companies, enabling them to demonstrate value and progress to stakeholders. As Mette pointed out, tools like metrics help sustainability professionals bring meaningful conversations into boardrooms, reinforcing the business case for biodiversity protection.
The Global Biodiversity Framework and business accountability
One of the cornerstones of COP16 is the Global Biodiversity Framework, established at COP15 in Montreal. This framework sets ambitious global targets, such as the “30 by 30 plan,” which aims to protect 30% of the Earth's land and marine areas by 2030. However, current protection levels—17% for land and 10% for marine areas—highlight the significant work still needed.
Another critical aspect of the framework is the financial shift required to support biodiversity. Governments must phase out $500 billion in subsidies that harm ecosystems, while allocating $200 billion towards restoration and protection efforts.
For businesses, Target 15 of the framework introduces a transformative requirement: large companies and financial institutions must monitor, assess, and disclose their impacts on biodiversity. This includes examining operational sites, supply chains, and portfolios to identify risks and opportunities. Such measures represent a significant shift, particularly in addressing hidden costs to nature in manufacturing and resource sourcing.
COP16: a step forward, but challenges remain
While COP16 demonstrated some progress, particularly in fostering positive conversations and sharing ambitious stories from global companies, key challenges were left unresolved. One of the major shortcomings was the inability of governments to mobilize the $200 billion per year required to restore biodiversity. Despite this, discussions about financing biodiversity are ongoing beyond COP16, offering some hope for future agreements.
Another key challenge was the limited submission of comprehensive national biodiversity action plans.
Although 119 countries presented biodiversity targets, only 44 submitted full strategies and action plans.
This gap highlights a common issue: while setting ambitious targets is relatively straightforward, drafting detailed strategies to achieve them proves much harder.
Governments need to take the lead by defining clear strategies and action plans that specify targets for forest areas, salt marshes, and other critical habitats. These plans provide a framework for businesses and financial institutions to mobilize resources and confidently align their efforts with national and global goals.
Complexity and political short-termism
The limited progress in developing biodiversity strategies can also be attributed to the inherent complexity of ecosystems and the competing pressures on natural resources. Urban expansion, agriculture, shipping, energy production, and fishing all pose significant challenges to biodiversity preservation.
Moreover, political systems often prioritize short-term gains over long-term policies, as environmental strategies are rarely seen as vote-winners. However, public interest in climate issues, pollution, and biodiversity is growing, pressuring governments to prioritize environmental policies. For example, in the UK, water pollution became a significant political issue during elections, signalling a shift in public priorities.
Measuring Biodiversity: a game-changer
One of the most promising developments in biodiversity management is the ability to measure it scientifically and systematically. Ramboll has expanded biodiversity as one of its four key strategic themes, driven by the need to address global environmental pressures and meet growing client demand for actionable biodiversity solutions.
Through the development of specific metrics, Ramboll has been able to set baselines for biodiversity and predict the outcomes of development projects. This approach, which began in the UK, has now expanded globally, demonstrating how science-based tools can drive tangible progress.
Biodiversity Net Gain: The UK leading the way
The UK has emerged as a pioneer in integrating biodiversity considerations into development projects. Legislation now mandates a minimum 10% net gain in biodiversity for all developments, meaning that every project must enhance nature beyond its original state.
The process begins with measuring the baseline biodiversity of a site, followed by designing development plans that factor in their environmental impact. Developers must prioritize on-site restoration and protection, with off-site offsets allowed only as a last resort.
This approach is transformative. For example, Ramboll worked with a company managing green campuses worldwide. By replacing non-native species with native plants, creating ponds, and optimizing landscapes for nature, the company achieved significant biodiversity gains, with some sites projecting up to an 80% increase.
Lessons for Denmark
Denmark currently lacks legislation similar to the UK’s biodiversity net gain framework. Adopting such policies could drive positive change by requiring developers to consider nature systematically during project planning. While achieving a 10% net gain may seem ambitious, it represents a significant improvement from past practices where development often led to a net loss of biodiversity.
Conclusion
COP16 highlighted both progress and the persistent challenges in global biodiversity management. Governments must step up by developing actionable strategies and committing to financial support, while businesses and institutions like Ramboll continue to lead the way with innovative, science-based solutions.
The journey toward biodiversity restoration is complex, but with growing public awareness and actionable tools like biodiversity metrics, the path forward is becoming clearer.
