Land and nature

In this topic

What it is | Why it matters | Who it matters most for | What you can do

How to know if it's working | What the jargon means | How to learn more

What it is

Nature is everywhere your business operates, from the ground beneath your feet to the treetops and waterways around you. Whether you're farming, building, manufacturing or bringing guests into natural spaces, your choices can affect plants, animals, water and soil. Even everyday things like removing trees, draining land, lighting outdoor areas at night, or letting stock wander into a creek can quietly disrupt ecosystems.

This guide explains how your business can avoid harming local biodiversity, minimise land degradation and support healthy ecosystems on site and through your supply chain. It's full of practical steps that work for agriculture, construction, events, tourism, aquaculture and more.

Why it matters

Our planet is losing species and habitats at a broad scale, which affects the natural systems that support food production, clean water and climate stability.

When we clear land, remove native vegetation, or cut off wildlife access with roads or fences, we weaken the natural systems that protect us from floods, droughts, and disease.

A key concept here is ecosystems – the web of living things that work together to keep everything healthy (including us). Biodiversity loss affects not only iconic animals like pandas and koalas but the health of the entire system, from bees that pollinate our crops to fungi that help them absorb nutrients and native grasses that hold the soil in place.

The impacts are also cumulative. You may just be removing a few trees, but if each of your neighbours does the same everyone wonders where the birds have gone. Your actions may feel small, but they can be used to protect the health of the systems we all depend on and show customers and your community that you’re part of the solution.

Sources: IPBES, 2019; UNCCD, 2017; UNEP, 2021; WEF 2020

Who it matters most for

This issue matters most for businesses that work directly on the land or near coasts and waterways. Activities like clearing land, pollution from factories and construction, farming, fishing or tourism in sensitive areas can damage local ecosystems if not managed carefully.

But even lower-impact businesses have a role. You may influence land and nature through your supply chain, deliveries, or product choices. Every business can take steps to reduce harm and protect the natural world.

What you can do

Here are some practical and impactful ways you can address your impact on the land and nature in your business, depending on your activities and location.

Understand your local environment and ecosystems

Minimise land clearing

Support biodiversity and local species

Use lower-impact farming, fishing and forestry methods

Restore and regenerate nature where you can

Understand your obligations to protect cultural and natural heritage

Consider ecosystem impacts in your supply chain

Understand your local environment and ecosystems

Everything on earth is part of a larger ecosystem, an interconnected web that includes the land, water, plants, animals and even microorganisms. Understanding the ecosystem you operate in helps you see what could be disrupted, damaged or supported by your choices.

Start by getting an idea of what natural features exist on or near your site. This might include native vegetation, creeks, wetlands, dunes, or rocky outcrops. Then look at what species rely on them. Are there nesting birds, amphibians, seasonal pollinators, or rare plants? Are there particular seasons that are important, like nesting or wet periods? Reach out to local conservation or Indigenous groups who understand the local environment for information.

Whether you're choosing plants for your landscaping, planning outdoor lighting, or deciding where to put fences or paths, understanding whether there are sensitive environments and species nearby helps avoid accidental harm.

Source: DCCEEW 2021

Quick actions you can take:

• Use free online tools or council maps to check for creeks, wetlands or protected areas near your site
• Ask a local conservation group or Indigenous ranger organisation about sensitive species in the area
• Walk your site before or after business hours and look for plants, animals or seasonal changes you may not have noticed.

Minimise land clearing

Clearing or flattening land is often the first step in development, but it comes with long-term consequences. Removing trees or native vegetation can cause erosion, take away nesting or breeding sites, and fragment habitats. Once those features are gone, they’re hard to replace.

Where possible, design the layout of any new construction to avoid as much clearing as possible. Retain mature vegetation in strips like tree lines and windbreaks around the edges. Use existing accessways rather than creating new ones. If you do need to clear, consider replanting elsewhere using native species.

If your work involves chemical or waste risks to soil and water, see the how-to guide on pollution and chemicals.

Source: London School of Economics

Quick actions you can take:

• Pause before clearing vegetation and ask if there’s a way to build around it instead
• Use existing roads or compacted areas instead of creating new ones

Support biodiversity and local species

It’s not just about the land and plants, it’s also about the wildlife – the birds, bugs, and other animals – that are affected by sound, movement, artificial light, and the introduction of new species. If you work near natural areas, consider how to minimise your impacts and also what you can do to support local species.

Especially at dusk and dawn, try to limit noise, outdoor activity and vehicle traffic, and reduce outdoor lighting at night for nocturnal animals. If your operations might interfere with migratory routes or nesting sites, consider shifting your timing or layout. Avoid fencing off entire areas if wildlife need to pass through.

You can also be proactive by doing things like creating birdhouses, establishing water holes for animals, or planting more of the plants local species depend on.

Source: Environment America

Quick actions you can take:

• Install downward-facing outdoor lights or motion sensors to reduce disruption to nocturnal wildlife
• Keep pets, livestock or invasive plants out of native habitat zones
• Leave logs, rocks or tree hollows in place to provide shelter for insects, reptiles and birds

Use lower-impact farming, fishing and forestry methods

Farming, fishing and forestry can do serious damage to land and water if not managed carefully. Overharvesting, disturbing large areas of soil and relying on chemical inputs weaken the land and water’s health and productivity. This can mean loss of topsoil, poor water retention, declining fish stocks and higher costs and lower yields each year.

If you manage farmland, try cover cropping, rotational grazing and limiting tillage to boost soil health. Forestry operations can benefit from mixed-species planting, selective harvesting, and leaving pieces of habitat untouched. Similarly, fishing operations can use selective fishing techniques to reduce bycatch and catch limits to ensure populations can recover. In aquaculture, rotating cages, using native or lower-impact species, and co-farming seaweed or shellfish can help reduce waste and rebalance the ecosystem.

The goal is to work in ways that support natural systems rather than deplete them. Creating more resilient systems that cope better with droughts, floods and pests means long-term productivity for your business.

Source: Montgomery, Biklé et al, 2022

Quick actions you can take:

• Rotate where animals graze or where crops are planted to avoid exhausting one patch
• Add one cover crop or mixed-species area to support soil health and pollinators
• Avoid overharvesting or using gear that scrapes or damages the environment

Restore and regenerate nature where you can

You can also help nature by restoring what’s been lost or damaged outside your own activities. Many business sites contain underused land like bare yards or weedy gullies which can be restored into healthy green spaces.

Start by removing invasive species and replanting with vegetation that's native to your area. If erosion is a problem, stabilise slopes with plantings or ground cover. For compacted soils, fence off the area and add organic matter to help them recover. You could also create new wetland areas, attracting local wildlife and providing a beautiful space for your team or community to relax.

Consider working with community or conservation groups, local councils or Indigenous rangers to design a project that benefits both your business and the land.

Don’t have land? There are also many nature restoration projects and charities you can choose to donate to or volunteer for.

Source: Atkinson, Brudvig et al, 2022

Quick actions you can take:

• Clear non-native, invasive plants and weeds like lantana, blackberry, kudzu, knotweed and ivy
• Plant native shrubs or trees in an unused corner of your property
• Join a local replanting or bush regeneration day with your team

Understand your legal obligations to protect cultural and natural heritage

Laws to protect biodiversity and ecosystems vary by country and region, but most developed nations have strong protections around endangered species, waterways, and vegetation removal. It’s important to be aware of any that are relevant to your activities.

Always check whether approvals are needed before you clear land, drain a site, carry out development near water, or carry out major works. Some areas may have heritage or cultural significance that isn’t obvious, so take time to investigate or consult early.

Doing the right thing helps you avoid fines or legal action and build stronger community relationships.

Source: GoTreeQuotes

Quick actions you can take:

• Check your local government’s planning or environmental portal before altering any land or vegetation
• Review your lease or permit conditions to see if they include biodiversity or heritage protections

Consider ecosystem impacts in your supply chain

Most biodiversity loss is driven by activities down the supply chain of natural materials you might buy, like timber, fibre, seafood or agricultural products. Your purchasing decisions can either support or discourage destructive practices.

Look for products or producers with sustainability certifications such as FSC, MSC, organic, regenerative or fair wild harvest. Refer to the Ecolabel Index for an overview of the certifications available. If certification is not viable, prioritise suppliers who apply the strategies in this guide to proactively protect ecosystems, use less harmful methods, or engage in land restoration.

For the more on topic of sourcing and materials, see the how-to guide on products and sourcing.

Source: WRI 2020

Quick actions you can take:

• Ask one key supplier if they know how the materials are harvested and how biodiversity is protected
• Prioritise buying food ingredients, timber, fibre or other natural materials with sustainability certifications such as FSC and MSC

How to know if it's working

Measuring impacts on land and nature can be harder than counting emissions or energy use, because results aren't always immediate or easy to quantify. But here are some possible metrics to consider:

• Area of vegetation cleared, protected or restored (m² or ha): Total land where natural vegetation has been either cleared or actively fenced off or re-established
• Number of native species planted: A count of trees, shrubs or plants added as part of restoration or landscaping
• Biodiversity observations: Qualified surveyors can track the number of species and population counts on your property, or you can simply track sightings of pollinators, birds or other wildlife returning over time
• Certified suppliers or products: Count or percentage of your major suppliers or products sold with nature-related certifications (eg, FSC, MSC, organic)

Many businesses set goals to improve from their current performance, like shifting half their purchases to certified sources, or you could set an action goal like restoring one hectare over five years.