IENE 2016

During the last couple ofyears, several systems for sustainability assessment of infrastructure, housingand communities have been developed. However, the aspect of biodiversity hasnot always been integrated into these systems in a satisfactory way. Therefore,the Swedish Transport Administration has initiated a research project aimingdeveloping a system for integrating, assessing and classifying biodiversity intransport infrastructure projects. Furthermore, the project aims at testing themodel in road and rail projects through case study methodology. The model thathas been developed in the research project is based on six impact categories:barrier effects, mortality, disturbance, habitat loss, new nature values andinvasive species. The aim of the model is that it will be used in order toquantitatively describe impacts on biodiversity in Environmental Product Declarations(EPD). Also, the model aims at functioning as a practical tool for planning andsteering infrastructure projects in order to reduce negative impacts onbio-diversity. The model is based on a set of questions and indicators forbiodiversity. The model is focusing on specific infrastructure projects. Also,the model covers all planning stages from feasibility studies, detailed designto construction and links up with the EIA process. This paper aims atdescribing the initial results of the research project, the model that has beendeveloped. Based on the preliminary results, the project shows that models forsustainability assessment have a potential to further the practice of includingbiodiversity in planning of transport infrastructure.