Biodiversity

Biodiversity
and Wildlife
Management

With the spread of Airports and urban areas, in a context where the air traffic is intensifying and the aircraft are becoming faster and quieter, the wildlife around airports poses a serious threat to the safety and security for both aviation and biodiversity itself. Preventing wildlife threat and protecting biodiversity around airports has to be balanced in a Wildlife Management Plan and a larger Biodiversity Management Program.

Wildlife
Management

Food, water, shelter, security are the four reasons why birds and animals are attracted by an airport. In the US, between 1990 and 2008, birds strikes caused 49 aircraft to be destroyed and 393 521 hours of aircraft’s downtime. 59% of the bird strikes occurs bellow 100ft/30m, which means in the vicinity of an airport.

If a serious or costly bird strike does occur, an airport can be forced to defend the design and operation of its bird control activities in court or to an insurance company.

Biodiversity
Management

Biodiversity is based on a fragile balance and, challenged by the spread of infrastructures, some species adaptes well while others are negatively impacted. With the growing awareness of anthropological impact on biodiversity, management of biodiversity and ecosystem must be interrogated at each step of a construction project. Protected area, wildlife circulation, rare species protection, all these aspects have to be consider while planning a new infrastructure around an airport.

A Biodiversity Management Program ensures your new projects will not threaten the ecological balance, and guarantee a good neighborly relationship.

Decreasing wildlife threat around airports without threatening the biodiversity balance of the area, means to set up first a meticulous Wildlife Hazard Management Plans (WHMP) and then a more general Biodiversity Management Plan.

Wildlife Hazard
Management Plan

Disperse and chase out birds and wildlife from runways and LTO operations, using designs and facilities that does not affect the ecological balance. Keep flights safe and protect biodiversity.

Data Review & Initial recommendation: on wildlife hazard to aircraft operations at airport location.

  • Collect data on the wildlife population
  • Assess the number of species, and their likelihood to strike an aircraft, along with the extend of damage associated.
  • Design a Bio-Monitoring Program and
  • A route map for structuring Bird Management Program.

Planning: scope and limits of the Risk Assessment. A Risk Assessment extends Take-Off routes and Landing Approach.

  • Identify the risks’ levels and whether the risks are manageable
  • Draw a benchmark
  • Define initial mitigation actions to be taken
  • Develop the methodology of your Risk Assessment

Wildlife Risk Assessment: organize your structure to mitigate wildlife hazard.

  • Assess wildlife hazard
  • Identify stakeholders and key jobs to handle your Wildlife Management Plan

To prove a sufficient protection against wildlife hazardous events on and around an airport, daily records of wildlife activities is then an effective proof.

Biodiversity
Management Program

Plan and build new infrastructures in harmony with the local biodiversity. Reduce the use of crop protection products and find alternative solutions to build respectful bounds with your neighborly communities.

Data Review & Studies: on biodiversity around the airport and particularities of the area. A deep understanding of the particular biodiversity issues is necessary.

  • Collect data to understand the biodiversity equilibrium of the area
  • Evaluate the biodiversity situation of your area/region
  • Assess regulations on biodiversity

Communication: about biodiversity equilibrium

  • Raise awareness among your employees and your customers
  • Associate with local partners (associations, museums…) deeply involved with the biodiversity protection.

Planification: of a set strategy to reduce and prevent biodiversity degradation

  • Assess actions that are harmful to the local biodiversity
  • Set up alternative actions
  • Comply with regulations
  • Create an user friendly support (mapping, interactive data set…) to share the planification with stakeholders.

An accessible Biodiversity Management Program is a successful one.

Envisa have been
supporting airports
for many years in their
Wildlife Hazard
Management Program.

Our team of environmental experts in aviation can help you revised and review your Bird Management Program, Wildlife Management Program, and set up a Biodiversity Management Program, to keep flights safe while protecting the ecological balance.