Biodiversity: the importance of taking action

Sonny: “A million plant and animal species are threatened by extinction. That’s the highest number since records began, and it’s us humans who are the main culprit. We’re polluting the environment, altering the land and oceans, driving climate change, depleting natural resources and enabling the spread of invasive species. 

All of this harms the environment we inhabit. Over half of the global economy depends on nature, such as carbon storage, water purification and access to fertile soils. That’s why any weakening of ecosystems is both an ethical and economic issue.” 

Josephine: “Helping local biodiversity has other benefits, too. It can relieve stress, encourage you to take exercise and also generally increases the value of your home. High-biodiversity areas are not only attractive, they’re also better prepared for future climate challenges. In a wet and watery country like the Netherlands, natural ecosystems that are rich in biodiversity play an important role as water storage buffers. 

That’s even more important in the face of increasingly frequent extreme weather events such as floods, torrential downpours and heatwaves. Plants and trees can help to lower the temperature by a few degrees, which makes all the difference during periods of extreme heat. Having less paving and more greenery in your garden also helps to drain water during downpours.” 

Sonny: “Researchers at Leiden University found that 100 square metres of ‘pavement gardens’ in Amsterdam and The Hague are home to as many as 154 insect species and 235 plant species. This proves that we need to think beyond solar panels and electric vehicles. Basically, chopping down a tree just to improve your panels’ output isn’t a sustainable choice.”

Sonny: “Start with what you buy and eat. ABN AMRO’s research into biodiversity loss estimated that the global production of trainers destroys 324,000 hectares of wildlife habitat each year, with annual smartphone production destroying 1,942,000 hectares. Increasing a product’s lifespan, such as by repairing it, could reduce that impact. Another way to lessen your impact on biodiversity is to increase how many plant-based foods you eat.” 

Josephine: “Rewild your garden by removing paving slabs and planting more greenery. Avoid raking and sweeping: all that leaf litter provides a habitat for animals. Don’t seal off your garden, so that animals like hedgehogs can get under your fence and move about freely. 

You could also install a green roof. There are many benefits to green roofs: they absorb rain, keep indoor temperatures cool during heatwaves and provide a home for plants and animals. You can also often apply for a grant.” 

Sonny: “Nest boxes, natural hedges, a water butt to store rainwater, height differences in your garden and compost heaps are all beneficial measures. You should also avoid using chemical pesticides if possible.”

Sonny: “Biodiversity is key to businesses, as they and their customers can only survive in a healthy ecosystem. Farmers need bees and hoverflies to pollinate crops, and industrial businesses are reliant on the availability of cooling and process water. Biodiversity improves soil, water and air quality in many ways. For instance, mussels, plant roots and various bacteria help to purify water, while several species of microbe break down pollutants in the soil. 

There are plenty of other examples too. As a business owner, you can leverage this by reusing resources like water, for instance. But it’s even more important to focus on your core business operations, find out how they impact biodiversity and keep your pollution emissions as low as possible, for instance. 

While you’re at it, have a good look at your business premises. Why not install a green roof, green facades and green parking spaces that drain water and support plant life? You could even consider a ‘wadi’: a small plot of submerged wetland to collect and drain rainwater. These are all ways to boost employee well-being while protecting your local environment.”

Sonny: “The Dutch government provides grants for agricultural conservation or landscape management, such as herb-rich grasslands that provide a crucial habitat for meadow birds. This also has several benefits for businesses, although they may not immediately be of a financial nature.” 

Josephine: “The government has several other grants and schemes for businesses other than farmers who are looking to improve biodiversity. These include the Environmental investment deduction (MIA) and Arbitrary depreciation of environmental investments (Vamil) schemes. These schemes let you deduct part of the investment costs for measures like planting native plant species, creating a pond or installing a green roof, green facade or nest boxes.”

If you’d like to explore how you can fund sustainable improvements or measures to help biodiversity, have a chat with one of our ‘Wonen’ advisers.