GNF - Biodiversity-Oriented Design of Business Premises
 

Biodiversity-Oriented Design of Business Premises

Boosting Urban Green Infrastructure through Biodiversity-Oriented Design of Business Premises

 

Europe is one of the most intensively used areas in the world. Up to 80 % of the area is used for urbanisation and transport infrastructure, agricultural and forestry production systems and industrial areas (European Environment Agency). 30 % of the territory of the European Union is highly fragmented, affecting the connectivity and health of ecosystems and their ability to provide viable habitats for species. Increasing urbanisation also has an impact on people's wellbeing, as the affordability of accommodation in green neighbourhoods is decreasing, but the impact of climate change, noise and particulate matter is increasing. In addition, there are excessive demands and time pressure as well as the loss of a close connection to nature.

Project Objective

The project LIFE BooGI-BOP of seven European partners promotes biodiversity-oriented design of premises (BOP) as a part of green infrastructures and potential stepping-stones for biotope corridors – especially in urban and peri-urban areas in Europe – that are also able to improve the well-being of individuals and society.

Project Activities

Throughout Europe, the project partners will raise the awareness and motivation of companies and related economic actors to include biodiversity as an important topic into the company’s (corporate health) management and decision-making. The project will raise the understanding that BOPs cannot only improve the protection and increase of biodiversity at local level but also the working climate and well-being of personnel.

 

Through initial assessments, companies receive an individual overview on the potential of biodiversity and of well-being of their premises or real estate and advice on the next steps for a biodiversity-oriented design of business premises. The standardization of BOP elements and a toolbox will support companies with many sites and centralized real estate management to implement BOP. 

 

Architects, landscape planners, gardeners have a key role in planning and designing premises.

During the project they will be motivated and trained to promote BOP and help to mainstream Biodiversity in Europe.

 

During the course of the project, a monitoring system will be developed to evaluate the development and impact of BOPs on company’s level and on national level.

 

A Europe-wide network, which will be established during the project, is to promote BOP premises and real estate in more than six EU countries also beyond the project duration.

Initiatives

The project is based on the experiences of the project "Greening of Company Premises", which was carried out from 2013 to 2016 as a model initiative in Germany. LIFE BooGI-BOP uses synergies from the cooperation with the “European Business and Biodiversity Campaign” and builds on the experiences with biodiversity checks.

Project Sponsorship

The project is supported by the LIFE Programme of the European Union.

Contact person

 

Mr. Dr. Thomas Schaefer

Global Nature Fund (GNF) – Office Radolfzell

Phone: +49 7732 9995 89

E-mail: schaefer@globalnature.org

 

Project partners

 
Bodensee-Stiftung (Lake Constance Foundation)
Institut für Lebensbezogene Architektur e. V.
Amt der Vorarlberger Landesregierung Abteilung Umwelt- und Klimaschutz (IVe)
 
Ecoacsa Reserva de Biodiversidad, S.L.
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Ekopolis Foundation
 

Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals

The project should make a concrete contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
 
 

Official Project Titel:

 

 

Project Period:

 

Project Countries:

 

Supported by:

 

Project Partners:

Boosting Urban Green Infrastructure through Biodiversity-Oriented Design of Business Premises

 

July 2018 – December 2021

 

Austria (Region of Vorarlberg), Germany, Slovakia, Spain

 

LIFE Programme of the European Union

 

Bodensee-Stiftung (Lake Constance Foundation), Germany

Institut für Lebensbezogene Architektur e.V. (Institute of Life-based Architecture), Germany

Global Nature Fund, Germany
Amt der Vorarlberger Landesregierung, Abteilung Umwelt- und Klimaschutz (IVe), Austria
Ecoacsa Reserva de Biodiversidad, S.L., Spain

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
Ekopolis Foundation, Slovakia