Take Action - Construction
What effect has the construction industry on Biodiversity?
Construction projects, whether commercial developments, housing estates, infrastructure or public-sector projects, all have the potential to damage natural habitats, threatening wildlife and plant species.
- Good practice starts with location. As far as possible, construction should take place in areas where it will have least impact on biodiversity.
- During construction habitat destruction may occur where a habitat is removed to make way for a new development. Plants and sessile animals in these areas are usually directly impacted generally resulting in alteration or reduction in biodiversity. Mobile animals (especially birds and mammals) retreat into remnant patches of habitat.
- Fragmentation: Native habitats, which were once continuous, may become divided into separate fragments during construction. The extent and connectivity of remaining habitats are reduced, and species may or may not be able to survive as a result. Fragmentation may alter the distribution of populations, the migration rates among populations, or the size of local populations. Animals with large home ranges (i.e. badgers) will be the most severely affected. Often habitat fragmentation doesn’t present an absolute barrier to movement, but rather subjects animals to greater mortality as they try to cross the contrasting habitat
- Disturbance: There is the potential for noise from construction activities to disturb fauna resulting in their relocation and thus reducing the biodiversity of an area.
- Pollution of watercourses: Soil, waste concrete and toxins in runoff from construction sites or fuels, accidentally spilled during storage or delivery, can enter watercourses. Fine sediments from the bottom or sides of streams can be mobilised during in-stream construction. These pollutants can impact aquatic habitats, plant life, invertebrate and all life stages of fish.
- Poorly timed construction: This can have a negative impact on a wide variety of species including nesting birds.
What is the Construction industry doing to protect biodiversity?
The National Road Authority has published guidance documents to provide a step by step approach to minimising impacts on badgers, bats, watercourse crossings prior to and during the construction phase of national road schemes. Please click here for more information. It sets out measures for species-specific links including the passage of mammals under roads, bridges and culverts on roadways. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government must be notified if otter, bat or badger habitats are encountered prior to construction. Badgers are protected under the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended in 2000), all bat species are protected under the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended in 2000) and EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) while otters are given additional protection under Annex II and Annex IV of the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).
In addition, the following is recommended during the construction phase of a project:
- Projects should be designed and implemented so as to avoid or compensate adequately for any adverse impacts on natural habitats and biodiversity.
- Site clearing must be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended in 2000). For example, removal of hedgerows and trees must not take place from the 1st March to the 31st August. The contractor must comply with all legislative provisions relating to hedgerow / tree removal and the protection of bats and birds with particular attention to nesting birds and breeding/roosting bats.
- Corridors connecting fragmented habitats should be provided. These include creating corridors, stepping stones and buffer zones to aid the movement of different organisms. A corridor could be a hedgerow or a riparian strip (green edge along a river). Stepping stones are patches of habitat which allow movement through the landscape without the need for direct links. The biodiversity of a sensitive ecological area, such as peatlands, could be protected from disturbance caused by construction activities by creating a buffer zone around it. The nature of the corridor will depend on the species that needs to be protected.
- Planting native trees/plants during the landscaping stage of a project can increase the biodiversity in an area.
- The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government must be notified in advance of any construction likely to impact on ecologically sensitive areas i.e. proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHA), candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). Within these areas certain habitats and species are protected under the Flora Protection Order 1999, Wildlife Act 1976, Wildlife (Ammendment) Act 2000, EU Habitats Directive and the EU Birds Directive.
- A Construction Waste Minimisation Plan should be implemented and waste removed to a licenced waste facility by an approved contractor.
- Planners and construction industries should be aware of best practice; maintain good drainage and natural water flows and exercise care in the siting and design of borrow pits and construction compounds.
- As well as reducing the risk of flooding, the use of Sustainable urban Drainage Systems (SuDS) in the remediation of runoff also assists in protecting and enhancing groundwater quality. Settlement ponds, used for the settlement of suspended solids during the construction stage, can provide habitats for amphibians (i.e. frogs).
- Ensure measures are in place to deal with unforseen accidents and spillages during construction.
Take Action
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process for anticipating the effects on the environment caused by a development (EPA 2002). Certain construction / development projects will always have significant environmental effects. On the basis of this, EIA is mandatory for all projects listed in Annex I of European Communities Directive 85/337/EEC (as amended by Directive 97/11/EC). Thresholds are specified in respect of most project types in Annex I. Where projects are sub-threshold it must be determined on a case-by-case basis whether it will have a significant effect on the environment, for example in terms of site sensitivity, and therefore should be subject to EIA. As part of the EIA process details of the existing environment must be provided, positive and negative potential significant impacts assessed and mitigation measures proposed to reduce, avoid or remedy any potential negative impacts identified.
Examples of possible negative impacts from a development and mitigation measures proposed:
|
Possible Negative Impact |
Mitigation Measures |
|
Sewage Pollution |
Ensure adequate percolation area is specified, or install treatment system if necessary. Consider use of constructed wetland/reedbed treatment system, which also provides a new wildlife habitat. |
|
Loss of wildlife corridors, Habitat loss and fragmentation |
Specify designs, which fit natural contours and leave habitat blocks connected. Specify retention ponds, other water features and wildlife corridors. Condition for replacement trees and hedges (ask that native species be used). Specify bird and bat boxes to be deployed where habitat has been lost. |
|
Siltation: damage to fisheries and wildlife, increased water turbidity, loss of amenity |
Ensure silt is not directly released into watercourses, keep activities away from river and stream banks where possible, water must pass through settlement ponds or tanks before being pumped into watercourses. |
|
Loss of habitat |
Where appropriate some of the pit face can be left for breeding Sand Martins. |
|
Loss of bat roost sites, trapping of bats |
A full bat survey should be performed. If bats are present, NPWS staff must be informed. A licence is required for any works on bat habitats. Advice should be taken on the best time of year for the work to be done. Gaps in brickwork may be left when repointing, or special bat bricks may be used. |
|
Loss of Barn Owl roost and breeding sites in ruins and old farm buildings. |
A survey should be performed. If owls are present, NPWS staff must be informed and advice should be taken on the best time of year for the work to be done. Nesting boxes can be erected where nest sites have been lost. |
|
Loss of habitat. |
Specify restoration post harvesting, if applicable. Mixed conifer/broadleaved plantings sustain higher biodiversity levels than conifer only plantations. Avoid large plantations by lakes or along riverbanks; these can cause water acidification. |
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Loss of habitat. Habitat fragmentation. The cutting of traditional wildlife routes. |
Avoid important habitats if possible. Specify habitat replacement/creation where possible (e.g. new tree planting with bird and bat boxes). Special tunnels for Otter and Badger may be applicable where traditional travel routes are cut. NPWS can advise. |
Source: Taken directly from Biodiversity & Development in County Westmeath. Good Practice Guidelines for the Local Authority. Westmeath Co Co.
If a development falls outside the requirements for a mandatory or sub-threshold EIA, legal requirements need to be taken into account, as follows:
- Under Section 37 (1) of the Forestry Act, 1946 a felling licence must be obtained from the Department of Agriculture and Food to cut down or uproot a tree. This applies to all developments with the exception of road construction which is exempt from this requirement. Click here to view the full Act.
- It is an offence to intentionally kill or injure a protected species (i.e badger, bat or otter) or to willfully interfere with or destroy the breeding site or resting place of a protected wild animal, under the provisions of the Wildlife Act, 1976 (as amended in 2000). Otters have additional protection because of their inclusion in Annex II and Annex IV of the Habitats Directive.
Who can I ask for help?
- The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the DEHLG, local NGOs (including Birdwatch Ireland and Bat Conservation Groups) and local Heritage Officers can advise on the ecological value of local sites and importance of habitats that may be impacted by development proposals.
- At the beginning of the EIA process consultation should take place with the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the DEHLG, the relevant Regional Fisheries Board and relevant NGOs. These organisations can advise on the scope of the ecological section of the EIS.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service of the DEHLG must be notified:
- If a development falls within the boundary of, or is adjacent to an SPA cSAC, or pNHA and there is the potential for significant impacts of the development on the designated area.
- If a rare or protected species (listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive, Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive, the Flora Protection Order, Red Data Species or Birds of Conservation Concern list) or a habitat listed in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive is identified during a field survey.
Invasive Alien Species
Those in the construction industry have an important role to play in protecting our biodiversity from invasive species. Follow these simple actions to help combat the spread of alien species.
Inspect equipment
Inspect equipment that has been in a waterbody or terrestrial site for attached vegetation, contaminated soil or obvious animal life before moving to another site. Remove this material before relocating (this can often be done by power hosing equipment).
Do not grow invasive alien species on your site
Before choosing plants for a site, make sure that they are not invasive, non-native species. Ask for advice in your garden centre and request plants from local origin and from certified sources. See the Invasive Species Ireland Horticulture Guidelines: http://www.invasivespeciesireland.com/downloads/codes.asp
Japanese Knotweed
Report sitings of non-native species
Log any sitings of non-native species on the ‘Alien Watch’ part of the Invasive Species Ireland Project website by clicking here.
In particular, watch out for Japanese Knotweed, as this species can grow through concrete and tarmac and can seriously damage buildings and other infrastructure. It is extremely hard to control and is very environmentally and economically damaging. There is a legal obligation to take action against invasive species as the Wildlife Amendment Act 2000, states that anyone who plants, or causes to grow exotic species, is guilty of an offence.
Go to the Invasive Species Ireland website for more information and see their Best Practice Management Guidelines of Invasive Sepcies
©2007 Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government