Guidance on Integrating Climate Change and Biodiversity into ...

Flood regimes and extremerainfall events• Ensure that any existing or planned essential infrastructure is protected from future floodrisk• In high risk areas, consider arrangements for supply of goods/services that may bedisturbed by floods• Increase resilience to floods through use of sustainable drainage systems• Enhance permeable surfaces and green spaces in new PPs• Avoid decreasing storage volumes in flood plainsStorms and high winds • Ensure new infrastructure considers the impacts of increased high winds and storms• In high-risk areas, consider arrangements for supply of goods/services that may bedisturbed by increased storm eventsLandslides • Avoid new developments in areas at risk from erosion• Protect and expand native woodland cover• In high-risk areas, consider arrangements for supply of goods/services that may bedisturbed by landslidesSea level rise, storms surge,coastal erosion,hydrological regimes andsaline intrusion• Avoid PPs that promote development in coastal areas at risk of rising sea levels, coastalerosion and flooding, except for projects for which this risk is taken into account, such asport development• Move water intakes and any economic activities that depend on the supply of clean wateror ground water (agriculture) away from areas that will be affected by saline intrusion• Potential synergies between adaptation and GHG reductionCold spells • Ensure that any existing or planned essential infrastructure is protected from cold spellsFreeze-thaw damage • Ensure that key infrastructure (e.g. roads, water pipes) is able to resist wind action and toprevent moisture from entering the structure by (e.g. different formulations of materials)Table 13: Examples of alternatives and mitigation measures related to biodiversityMain concerns related to:Degradation of ecosystemservices(including the impacts on theprocesses which areimportant for the creationand/or maintenance ofecosystems)Loss and degradation ofhabitats(including the extent orquality of the habitat,protected areas includingNatura 2000 sites, habitatfragmentation or isolationand green infrastructure)Loss of species diversity(including species protectedunder the Habitats Directiveand Birds Directive)Examples of alternatives and/or mitigation measures at the assessment stage• Restore degraded ecosystems on the site with a view to enhancing ecosystem services• Use of ecosystem services approach (see box overleaf) and ecosystem-based approachesand green infrastructure:o green bridges and eco-ducts (elements of green infrastructure) re-connect naturalareas divided by linear developments (e.g. roads or railway lines); they reduceaccidents involving wild animals and cars; allow animals to move easily and safelyfrom one area to another; give animals more space to find food and shelter, and allowpopulations of the same species to interact, improving the overall resilience of thespecies; and help plant species to spreado restoration of flood plains and wetlands as an alternative to dykes• Provide recommendations for the project level, e.g. recommend specific designalternatives to avoid adverse effects on bird species (e.g. size, height, spacing, lighting andvisibility of wind turbines); or timing of construction conditions• Deliver ‘smart conservation’ e.g. by promoting properly designed parks, walking paths,green roofs and walls which can contribute to species diversity and to tackle climatechange in urban environmentLoss of genetic diversity • Identify recommendations for the project level, e.g. identify ‘no-go-zones’ or alternativelocations for certain types of investments on grounds of irreversible damage to rarespecies<strong>Guidance</strong> on integrating climate change and biodiversity into SEA 45