Biodiversity as a project lever
Preserving water resources, restoring ecological continuity and protecting living soil are no longer isolated initiatives. These requirements are becoming structuring factors for quality of life, public health and regional resilience. Through Effinature certification, IRICE offers a recognized operational framework for integrating these issues into urban and development projects.
Preserving water resources is no longer an option
Recurrent droughts, soil degradation and the increasing scarcity of wetlands are forcing developers to rethink their projects. At the crossroads of health, ecological and technical issues, water management is becoming a marker of environmental quality. It requires precise, measurable and enforceable responses.
With this in mind, IRICE has developed the Effinature reference framework, an evaluation grid focusing on the preservation of hydrological continuity, soil sealing and integrated stormwater management.
Operational practices aligned with local needs
Effinature certification incorporates several specific levers relating to water and soil:
🔹 Parcel infiltration
Systematized, this approach encourages the return of water to the natural cycle. It limits the volumes to be treated and reduces the risk of downstream flooding.
🔹 Hydraulic frames
They enable us to reconstruct the landscape and functions of the site, in conjunction with green and blue corridors and urban planning documents.
🔹 Keeping soil alive
Preserving the biological activity of soils is a non-negotiable condition in the Effinature frame of reference, as it determines the ecological resilience and self-purification capacity of substrates.
Towards certified hydrological performance
In 2024, several territories and operators have chosen to integrate Effinature into their climate adaptation strategies, explicitly targeting hydrological performance: Oppidea, Toulouse Métropole, Est Ensemble and CDC Habitat.
The accredited certification process enables :
- guarantee the traceability of commitments,
- secure projects within a recognized normative framework,
- translate policy objectives into verifiable indicators.
A health, ecological and strategic response
Today, ecological water management is more than just an environmental issue. It is becoming a lever for public health, a factor in urban attractiveness, and a marker of responsible governance.
Faced with the challenges of tomorrow, IRICE will continue to equip public and private players with demanding standards, designed to bring together the general interest, economic viability and ecological integrity.