The latest scientific publication, ‘Beyond compliance: Enhancing biodiversity through transformative mitigation strategies in spatial planning related SEAs and EIAs‘, was developed through a collaborative effort between Aalborg University of Denmark, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), University of Trento and the Instituto Superior Técnico of the Universidade de Lisboa.
Drawing on 200 SEA and EIA reports from Denmark, Spain, Portugal, and Germany, the study explores how these tools apply the mitigation hierarchy—not just to minimise harm, but to enhance biodiversity outcomes.
The publication argues for a shift toward more transformative environmental governance, where SEA and EIA evolve from reactive tools into proactive instruments for delivering net-positive biodiversity outcomes. The findings show that while current practice emphasises impact minimisation, opportunities for stronger avoidance and proactive enhancement measures are often missed, particularly in project-level EIAs. SEAs, with their broader scope, more frequently mention enhancement, but a lack of legal enforcement and poor coordination between planning levels weakens their impact.
The study marks the culmination of several months of dedicated research within the BioValue project, offering key recommendations for embedding enhancement into policy and improving the integration between strategic and project-level assessments.
This research marks a significant contribution to BioValue’s mission of strengthening biodiversity integration in planning processes across Europe.
Read more about the publication here: Kørnøv, Lone, et al. “Beyond compliance: Enhancing biodiversity through transformative mitigation strategies in spatial planning related SEAs and EIAs.” Environmental Impact Assessment Review 114 (2025): 107960.
