Tools to assist biodiversity preservation provided for land use planning services
In land use planning, many tools can be used to support biodiversity preservation. As part of the Naturewise Espoo (Luontoviisas Espoo) project, a number of tools were assessed for this purpose. The assessment included 12 different tools from Finland and abroad used to assess and/or measure biodiversity, ecosystem services and various green elements. Some of the tools provide analyses of the initial situation, while some tools are usually applied to assess plans and designed solutions. Some
tools measure, for example, the effects on ecological values by comparing the current situation to that resulting from different plans. Different tools are suitable for different purposes, planning stages and scales.
Many tools are used regularly by Finnish cities and/or internationally. From non-Finnish European and Australian providers, the assessment specifically presents tools used to measure the no net loss of biodiversity. Some tools have already been used or tested by the City of Espoo and different tools are currently being developed: the development of a green factor tool (in a site scale) is being finalised, and a separate project to develop a green factor tool for districts is starting up. The City of Espoo has previously produced the Ecosystem Service Analysis, and an analysis tool that measures the accessibility of green areas and the pressure of recreational use on green areas.
Some of the tools are fairly easy to use, but others require detailed or complicated background research and/or comprehensive and deep knowledge of the relevant subject matter. Many tools can be operated using geospatial data (GIS), but some, such as those used to measure changes in biodiversity, also require site inventory and assessments completed by an ecologist. The usability of tools depends on the availability and quality of required source materials. The existing tools should be used and developed further because they offer the opportunity to assess and consider nature in many different ways.
Finally, we must remember that such tools are meant to assist planning processes. Additionally, certificates, plan regulations and other commitments can be used to promote the consideration of ecological values and green areas suitable for recreation purposes in land use planning. Land use planning always entails coordinating multiple goals we have set for our growing city, and good knowledge-based cooperation is of primary importance in the promotion of biodiversity during all stages of the city planning process.