Biodiversity: the foundation for all our futures

The growing threat

But as the population grows and our need for resources continuously increases, biodiversity is being increasingly threatened, and in many cases, devastated.

The scale of biodiversity loss is staggering. According to the WWF’s 2024 Living Planet Report*, the global wildlife population has decreased by more than two-thirds since 1970 due to human activities. In the UK alone, species populations have declined by an average of 19% since 1970**, with one in six species now at risk of extinction​. Ireland’s first Citizen’s Assembly Report on biodiversity loss, published in 2023, sounded a similar alarm, issuing 159 recommendations to combat the crisis​.

This loss of biodiversity destabilises ecosystems, making them less resilient to climate fluctuations, natural disasters, and disease outbreaks. Ecosystems that have already been degraded by human activities become less capable of adapting, leading to further losses of species and natural processes.

And without a diverse range of species and habitats, we lose the capacity to respond to these challenges, putting food security, water supply, and entire global ecosystems at risk.

The cost of biodiversity loss

The economic cost of biodiversity loss is also significant. The World Economic Forum estimates that more than half of global GDP (about $44 trillion) is moderately or highly dependent on the natural world. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries all rely on natural systems like pollination, water purification, soil fertility and climate regulation. When biodiversity declines, these ecosystem ‘services’ deteriorate, leading to reduced productivity and increased costs across the economy.

As a simple example, agriculture relies on biodiversity for pollination and pest control. As bee populations decline and ecosystems weaken, crop yields suffer, potentially leading to increased food prices and supply chain instability. According to a recent Oxford University report***, the ‘Value at Risk’ from loss of pollinators to agriculture stands at $400 billion. They also estimate that shocks to the global economy related to biodiversity loss and ecosystem damage, could cost upwards of $5 trillion.

These numbers echo a growing global awareness: that without urgent action to protect biodiversity, the very systems that support human life could fail.

Our responsibility to protect biodiversity as we build infrastructure

Given the economic and intrinsic value of biodiversity, it is in all our interests to prioritise its protection. Governments, businesses and individuals all have a role to play in safeguarding biodiversity for future generations.

Rather than treating biodiversity as an afterthought, we should always be looking to design infrastructure projects that minimise habitat destruction and promote ecosystem restoration. The use of nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands to mitigate flooding, can help protect biodiversity while protecting society at the same time.

And industries that rely on natural resources, such as agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, must transition to more sustainable practices that maintain biodiversity. This includes reducing chemical inputs, protecting critical habitats, and ensuring the responsible use of resources.

In addition, governments around the world need to implement stronger environmental regulations and ensure they are enforced. This includes setting legally binding biodiversity targets, as seen in England, where developers are now required to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in their projects.

Indeed, there appears to be a growing global trend to more stringent biodiversity protections such as those included in the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, Australia’s National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and the America the Beautiful plan in the US.

A scientific approach

As we face the existential threat of global biodiversity collapse, at APEM Group, our goal is to help industries meet their environmental obligations while working towards biodiversity enhancement. And when we’re dealing with such complex ecosystems, we believe that all decision making must be based on core scientific principles, highly accurate data collection and expert analysis.

Whether conducting surveys of habitats, managing protected species, or offering guidance on biodiversity-friendly development, our technical and support teams combine years of experience with the latest technology, to lead the way in environmental consultancy.

There’s much more to come

In the coming weeks and months, we will be exploring biodiversity in greater detail and introducing some of APEM’s subject matter experts. We hope to shed more light on how biodiversity can be protected and enhanced across different ecosystems and sectors, from land to marine environments, even as governments and businesses alike continue development to meet the demands of a growing global population.

We’ll be covering a range of topics, each critical to understanding the challenges we face and the opportunities available to protect biodiversity, including:

• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
  While use of a metric for BNG is established in England, other countries are still developing their frameworks. We’ll look at techniques for establishing baseline conditions and monitoring improvements over time, ensuring long-term biodiversity sustainability in the context of a complex legislative framework.
• Regulatory compliance vs enhanced biodiversity
  We’ll explore how nature-based solutions (NBS) can go beyond legal obligations to deliver long-term environmental benefits.
• Environmental planning
  We’ll explore how EIAs and SEAs play a pivotal role in supporting the renewables sector, with a focus on post-compliance monitoring and mitigation strategies.
• Marine Biodiversity and BNG
  Biodiversity in marine environments presents unique challenges, particularly in sectors like offshore wind. We’ll explore how even large-scale projects can contribute to ecosystem health.
• Marine nature-based solutions
  We’ll explore how developers can tackle the challenges of compensation and derogation in marine biodiversity projects – and ensure biodiversity is protected in such dynamic environments.
• Onshore wind
  We’ll explain how APEM’s work in onshore wind can ensure such projects can meet environmental obligations while contributing to biodiversity enhancement.
• Technology and innovation
  From geospatial insights to advanced data analysis, we’ll highlight the cutting-edge tools available to provide actionable insights for biodiversity protection.
• Industry trends and the future
  Looking toward future of biodiversity, we’ll be discussing emerging trends and strategies to support industries in navigating the challenges ahead.

At APEM, we believe that by making informed, science-based choices, we can balance the needs of development with the urgent need to protect biodiversity. In doing so, we can help create a future where both humanity and the natural world can thrive.

That’s why we’ve created this series of articles. The better informed we all are, the better our decision making will be. Please join us on the journey.

*   Source: https://www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-10/living-planet-report-2024.pdf  
** Source: APEM Group ESG Impact Report 2023 
*** Source: https://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2023-12/INCAF-MacroCriticality_of_Nature-December2023.pdf