Biodiversity preservation: a forward-looking issue for logistics real estate stakeholders

“In a context of discussion around ZAN (Zero Net Artificialization) and implementation of the ERC sequence (avoid, reduce, compensate), a growing number of logistics projects are pursuing BiodiverCity Construction certification, notes Victor Lavisse, Director of Environment and Biodiversity at APRC, an Afilog member and member of CIBI’s technical committee. Based on this observation, CIBI (International Council for Biodiversity and Real Estate) and Afilog decided to create a working group, ‘Logistics projects, business sites and biodiversity: how exemplary can projects be?’, in order to better support the sector, maximize consideration of biodiversity issues and help stakeholders go further in this area.” This work was also requested by CIBI’s scientific council following reviews of BiodiverCity Construction-certified project files.

The BiodiverCity Construction label, led by CIBI since 2014, is a tool for assessing and promoting consideration of biodiversity across all real estate projects. In more than 10 years, 400 projects have been certified, including 41 logistics projects exceeding 5,000 sq. m. “Originally designed for construction in urban environments, the framework has gradually been adopted for various asset types, explains Pauline Plewa, CIBI’s Managing Director. We therefore need to go further in contextualization—that is, in taking account of each project’s ecological characteristics—and weighting the various criteria for certification according to each project’s specific features.” The second version of the label, currently under development and expected to be operational during 2026, will move in that direction.

According to Pauline Plewa, “the aim of a label such as BiodiverCity is above all to support and encourage companies to design their projects with biodiversity preservation in mind.” To better understand the particular characteristics of logistics sites, their challenges and objectives, and determine the actions to implement for biodiversity, CIBI therefore approached Afilog in 2025. For two years, the two institutions will work together. Ecologists, soil scientists and environmental experts on the one hand, and feedback from experience on the other, will seek to define what constitutes an exemplary logistics project or business site in terms of preserving and restoring living ecosystems.

This work complements actions already undertaken by the association. The Charter of Reciprocal Commitments, signed in 2021 with the French State for the environmental and economic performance of logistics real estate; publication of a Landscape Guide in 2025; introduction of a carbon indicator; and the commitment to install photovoltaic panels on building roofs whenever possible are just a few examples of the initiatives undertaken by Afilog members.

According to Victor Lavisse, logistics real estate stakeholders could go even further on biodiversity and pursue more ambitious approaches than they do currently. “Compensation is still too often chosen instead of avoidance and reduction, he regrets. There is still room for improvement on various issues that can support biodiversity: greening buildings, for example, has not yet been sufficiently explored. Soil management is only rarely taken into account in projects in France (whereas in Switzerland, soils benefit from stronger regulatory and technical recognition, with long-term project monitoring by a soil scientist generally required for sites of around 5,000 sq. m or more). Light-vehicle parking lots are often oversized and impervious, and paired with predominantly single-story buildings...” This finding is not necessarily the result of resistance from project developers. “There are questions concerning the regulatory framework, technical and economic conditions, and the sector’s historically entrenched practices… The work carried out jointly with CIBI and its experts should make it possible to identify the solutions best suited to logistics sites.”

Beyond the question of what is expected of these sites in terms of biodiversity, Pauline Plewa also raises the issue of passing on what may have been done during the design and construction phases. “The second version of the BiodiverCity label will take greater account of this operational-planning aspect,” she announces, noting that interested stakeholders may contact CIBI if they wish to take part in the pilot phase, which will help refine the future version.