Biodiversity as a project lever
Achieving zero net artificial development (ZAN) means rethinking renaturation beyond the surface. How can we guarantee the real ecological effectiveness of our projects? Here's how.
ZAN: from surface to function
The Climate and Resilience Act sets a clear course: halve the consumption of natural, agricultural and forest areas (ENAF) by 2031, and achieve zero net artificialization (ZAN) by 2050. The principle seems simple. The reality is more demanding.
Because desartificating is not just about "desealing". Restoring soil, planting trees or sowing meadows is not enough to recreate the ecological conditions that will enable biodiversity to return, maintain itself and flourish. Living things cannot be measured in square meters. It's measured in results.
Renaturation: how to qualify what really works
The term "renaturation" is now widely used in development projects. But behind the intention, approaches remain highly variable:
- green roofs and building footings,
- planting in the ground,
- creation of specific habitats,
- rebuilding ecological corridors.
Not all these systems have the same ecological impact. They don't all produce the same effects. The key question then becomes: how can we prove that the action taken really benefits biodiversity?
Measuring biodiversity performance: a question of credibility
In the context of the ZAN objective, demonstrating the quality of renatured surfaces becomes strategic. For project owners, this means :
- go beyond the declarative,
- avoid greenwashing,
- secure their environmental communication.
This is precisely the role of independent assessment tools such as the Effinature certification carried out by IRICE. A structured, methodological approach that makes it possible to :
- measure the real ecological contribution of a project,
- distinguish between surface and functional effects,
- guarantee ecological continuity beyond visible structures.
What certification means for ZAN projects
Effinature certification is part of this objective approach:
- qualification of biodiversity gains based on clear indicators,
- traceability of actions taken,
- independence of assessment.
It enables developers, property owners and local authorities to demonstrate the sincerity of their desartificialization initiatives. But also to avoid the pitfall of simply renaturalizing the landscape, without any measured ecological benefit.
Between gross and net artificialization: proof through living things
The ZAN objective calls for thinking in terms of flows, not just stocks. It's not just a question of compensating hectares for hectares. It's about questioning the efficiency of the systems, their capacity to sustainably accommodate living organisms and recreate stable ecological interactions.
From this perspective, measuring biodiversity performance becomes an essential lever. Not as an additional constraint, but as a guarantee of robustness and credibility.
Further information IRICE offers independent certification of biodiversity performance, which can be integrated into desartificialisation and renaturation projects as part of the ZAN objective. If you have any questions about how to qualify your projects, please contact us.