RENATU: a tool for assessing the ecological potential of an industrial or urban site for non-specialist users

Overview & Synopsis

The biodiversity strategy of companies is part of their financial and social performance. Urban, Industrial and Linear Transport Infrastructures (UILTI) integrate green spaces. For these, managers are asking for tools to assess and monitor their biodiversity. RENATU is a potential biodiversity indicator. It is composed of several indices that concern ecosystem features. The more complex the environment, the greater the taxonomic diversity. The complexity of the ecological components, measured by the indices, is indicative of the potential for hosting plant and animal species (insects, arthropods, butterflies, birds, mammals, etc.). Atotal of 96 sites were used to test this indicator. The results demonstrate the homogeneity of the ecological indices. An evaluation by means of a user questionnaire was used to confirm its relevance as a potential biodiversity management tool. Such an indicator is part of the corporate social responsibility strategy. It enhances both financial and social performance