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Site conditions are the deciding factor
This credit promotes biodiversity by encouraging project teams to protect existing onsite native habitat or restore the site with native species.
How you go about earning this credit will depend on the existing conditions of your project site. If you have a greenfield site—one that has not been built, graded, or otherwise altered by human activity—you are required to limit site disturbance during construction.
If your site has been previously developedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past...
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2 Comments
Land protection
When using the protecting 50% of the site to meet this requirement. What is the definition of "protect". Does this mean placing in a land conservation easement or other legal means of holding the property for conservation? Are there other methods that can work for this purpose?
Robert,
For this credit, “protect” requires ensuring the site's adaptive/native species are undisturbed by the project’s development, and that the project commits to protecting the designated area. This is reinforced by implementing specific practices (particularly during construction) to limit harm to the native or adaptive species on your project site, and committing to preserving the area as it is. During construction, this should include incorporating specific practices and requirements into construction documents such as specifying areas for lay-down, recycling and disposal, using paved areas for staging of construction activities, as well as using fencing around existing vegetation. Also, include specifics on areas for construction entrances and setbacks. It's a good idea to incorporate regular monitoring and inspections of the construction site to ensure these requirements are being implemented and followed. There is not mention of requiring a land trust or any legal action to meet the credit.
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