En studie av värdeförlust, ekologisk kompensation och trädbevarande i Stockholmshems byggprojekt

Sammanfattning

The question of how tree-related values are managed in new construction projects, and to what extent losses can be avoided, minimized, or compensated for, has therefore become increasingly important. Against this background, the aim of this study is to examine how the loss of tree-related natural values is managed in housing development projects undertaken by Stockholmshem. The study is based on a case study of two housing development projects within Stockholmshem: Bjurbäcken in Rågsved and Tåjärnet in Solberga. The analysis was conducted using the Ramboll European Biodiversity Metric (EBM) in combination with Boverket’s guidance on ecological compensation, and was assessed based on criteria such as ecological equivalence, the mitigation hierarchy, additionality, and long-term functionality. The study identifies several challenges related to biodiversity management in housing development projects, including conflicts between housing construction and the preservation of natural values, as well as difficulties in monitoring long-term ecological outcomes. The results show that mature trees and established ecological values are often difficult or impossible to fully replace through compensatory measures. Although the projects include several nature-based solutions and ambitions to enhance biodiversity, the compensatory measures are assessed as only partially capable of achieving ecological equivalence. The opportunity to preserve natural values is largely determined during the early stages of the planning process, when decisions regarding land use, development intensity, and building placement are made. A need for more systematic methods to measure and monitor ecological changes over time has been identified, to better recognize and integrate natural values and the long-term climate and ecosystem functions of trees earlier in the planning process.