Lue02 Ecological features of planted area – Above Green

Aim

To measure and recognise ecological features that have been installed in the planted areas of the asset footprint in order to improve the ecological value of the site.

Question

What ecological features have been planted or installed in the planted areas of the asset’s footprint?

Credits	Answer	Select one applicable answer
0	A	Question not answered
0	B	No
1	C	2 or more ecological features are present
2	D	All the ecological features are present
Exemplary	E	Habitat that significantly supports local native species

Assessment criteria

Criterion	Assessment criteria	Applicable answer
1	Ecological features are listed below: Planters (containing living plants) outside Traditional planted areas, such as planting in car parks and planting around the asset Other planted areas, such as green roofs and green walls Features to assist local fauna	C-D
2	Native floral species or those with a known attraction or benefit to local wildlife can be considered for the purpose of enhancing the ecological value	C-E
3	Features to assist local fauna include (but are not limited to): Bird boxes Bat boxes Insect boxes Wildlife bricks (e.g. bees or bats) Assessors must verify features are installed and maintained correctly, a reasonable number of features have been installed, and local or regional guidance has been followed. The features must be installed in line with the manufacturers guidance and ecological advice from a suitably qualified ecologist (SQE) or from a relevant organisation/ authority for the feature (e.g. local, national or international wildlife charities).	C-D
4	Planted areas must be of a viable size to support the flora and fauna within them and cannot be bare soil.	C-D
5	Exemplary level credit: Answer option E can be select independently of which other answer option has been selected. Habitat which significantly supports local species must be maintained and installed in line with local guidance and advice from a relevant organisation/authority for the feature (e.g. local, national or international wildlife charities). The Habitat will aim to enhance the ecology of the site in more ways than one, examples of this include wildlife pond, wildflower meadow or hedgerow.	E

Methodology

Off-site enhancement

For assets with no outdoor space to influence, credits are still achievable if they have supplied ecological features or habitat creation within 2km, using the same guidance described in the criteria. For this to be applicable, all opportunities on-site must be exhausted before off-site enhancement can be recognised.

For example, where an asset has no outdoor space to influence and they have achieved the credit for 2 ecological features (e.g. appropriate bird boxes and a green roof), they can still target credits for creating habitat if they do so in the local area (e.g. a local park). To use another example, if only 1 ecological feature is appropriate for the asset, they can also implement the additional one in a wider area.

Where this is pursued, an SQE must be used to ensure the features are significant for contributing to biodiversity and are appropriate, in line with their expert opinion.

Please note that ecological features need to have been installed specifically associated with the assessed asset, to avoid double counting. Assets cannot claim credits for features implemented on other assets the asset owner owns.

Evidence

Criteria	Evidence requirement
-	The evidence below is not exhaustive, please also refer to the ‘BREEAM evidential requirements’ section in the scope of the Guidance for appropriate evidence types which can be used to demonstrate compliance
All	Visual inspection of ecological features

Definitions

Suitably qualified ecologist:

An individual achieving all the following items can be considered to be “suitably qualified” for the purposes of a BREEAM In-Use International assessment:

Holds a degree or equivalent qualification in ecology or in a related subject comprising a significant ecology component.
Is a practising ecologist, with a minimum of three years relevant experience (within the last five years). Such experience must clearly demonstrate a practical understanding of factors affecting ecology in relation to construction and the built environment; including, acting in an advisory capacity to provide recommendations for ecological protection, enhancement and mitigation measures. The relevant experience must relate to the country that the assessment is being carried out in.

Additional information

Ecological features:

Where features are installed they must be maintained correctly, appropriate for the particular asset being assessed, in line with manufacturer’s guidance and ecological advice from an SQE or relevant organisation/authority for the feature. For example, in the UK this may be available from RSPB, Bat Conservation Trust or Buglife, for the bird, bat or insect boxes, respectively. Guidance from equivalent organisations for different countries should be referred to. If this is not available for the particular country being assessed, organisations that covers a nearby country with similar context for wildlife.
Where available, local or regional guidance has been followed to ensure features and habitats are appropriate for local priorities for biodiversity. For example, where the local biodiversity action plan suggests that Swifts or a particular species of bat are present in the area and are a local priority, these should be considered before selecting anything not specifically mentioned in the local guidance.
A reasonable quantity of features have been installed for the asset being assessed to make the most of these features being installed in line with local guidance, SQE guidance or relevant organisation e.g. local wildlife trust) and using the Assessor’s discretion. For example, one bird box for a huge development would not be acceptable if there was scope to install more elsewhere on the asset, which could add ecological value