IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute

This report presents the results of the project Handbook for Biodiversity in the Housing Sector, which aimed to develop a practical method and guidance to help Swedish housing companies identify, understand and follow up their impacts on biodiversity. The work was carried out through literature reviews, interviews, document studies, workshops, and an adaptation of the internationally recognized LEAP methodology to the specific conditions of the housing sector. Current biodiversity research relevant to the housing sector emphasizes the need for integrated and systematic approaches that encompass the entire value chain, from planning and procurement to implementation and property management, with clear linkages to governance, risk management, and monitoring. At the same time, research indicates a lack of standardized and practically applicable methods for translating biodiversity considerations into concrete operational practices in the built environment.

The project and the resulting handbook address these challenges by translating established international frameworks and current scientific knowledge into a structured and sector-specific approach tailored to housing companies. The results show that housing companies affect biodiversity both directly, through land use and the management of outdoor environments, and indirectly, through material flows and supply chains. At the same time, many organizations lack the structures, indicators, governance routines, and data needed to conduct long-term and systematic biodiversity management. The handbook therefore provides an integrated framework that supports companies in mapping, evaluating, assessing and acting on nature impacts and dependencies across their operations. The handbook includes methods, process descriptions, checklists, and indicators that enable consistent follow-up of both direct and indirect impacts. It also clarifies how responsibilities, routines, and decision-making processes can be organized within procurement, project development, property management, and strategic governance. In this way, the handbook provides companies with a practical and scalable tool that links biodiversity considerations to risk management, sustainability strategies, and business development. The project also highlights the need for continued development of data quality, organizational competence, and digital tools to support implementation. The handbook should therefore be understood not as a final solution, but as a starting point for ongoing learning and sector-wide development. By beginning with structured mapping, analysis, and follow-up, housing companies can reduce negative impacts, strengthen ecological functions, and contribute to more resilient and sustainable housing areas.