Important for large-scale future RES projects is the provision of financiers to enable the investment. Funds as well as capital banks that participate in project financing require several documents to ensure that the planned investment is prepared with the highest standards. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is the largest financial organization, has developed Standards of Action for Environmental and Social Sustainability. The main standard is to establish, for the entire duration of the project, an effective Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) to anticipate the environmental and social risks posed by the company’s business activities, as well as to avoid, minimize and compensate for any negative effects of the investment.
One of the documents resulting from the ESMS is the Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP), which we are preparing at Ambiens. This plan indicates measures to reduce the negative impact of the investment on biodiversity (Figure 1). It defines the scope of protection of environmental elements located on the site of a given investment and in its immediate vicinity. The BMP ensures responsible management of ecosystem resources and the project site, which promote environmental development. The BMP also defines roles and responsibilities, training and reporting requirements, and audit activities.
A BMP is a comprehensive document that ensures proper operation and protection of the environment, preservation or even enhancement of biodiversity, and assures foreign banks and funds of the company’s commitment and sophistication in environmental issues.
The preparation of BMPs is preceded by comprehensive pre-implementation surveys, which we also perform at our company. They make it possible to ascertain the presence of valuable and protected species and natural habitats, making it possible to predict the likely environmental risks in the context of project implementation.
Figure 1. Hierarchy of mitigation measures (EBRD, 2023, modified)