Back to the Environmental Approach Page Land Use What is the challenge? Ecosystems and species are in decline all over the world, mainly as a result of increasing land use changes resulting from human activities (e.g. agriculture; housing). Land use changes can impact on soil, water and air quality which in turn can cause global disturbances to, and/or fragmentation of, habitats and ecosystems. The development of new shopping centres presents a double environmental challenge: a) When undertaking development on ‘greenfield’ (previously undeveloped) sites: land is used that could otherwise be left in a natural or semi-natural state. This diminishes a scarce resource and has potentially significant ecological effects. In addition, construction activities can also cause damage to natural habitats, threatening wildlife and plant species through disturbances; b) When undertaking development on previously developed land: it can be contaminated from previous uses. The release of harmful substances into the ground can cause long-term problems, including loss of soil biodiversity, reduction in soil fertility and potential danger to human health. Through their land purchasing and management activities, property developers and investors acquire a wide range of legal responsibilities for the clean up of potentially contaminated land. What is Sonae Sierra doing about it? DEVELOPMENT Sonae Sierra is conscious of the need to preserve ‘greenfield’ land and, where possible, it develops on previously developed or ‘brownfield’ land. Through its design activities, supported by ESRD standards, it seeks to maximise the efficient use of land. Sierra’s long term objective in this area is to promote the use of previously developed land for new shopping centre projects and to protect and enhance biodiversity wherever possible. In some instances, Sonae Sierra’s developments have been located on sites which have had previously contaminating uses. In such cases remedial action was undertaken to clean up or contain the contamination to standards appropriate for the site to be used as a retail development. As a minimum requirement, the remediation levels and guidance defined in the Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines or in Dutch Standards for Soil Quality must be complied with. Ecology and biodiversity impacts are covered within the ESRD standards ensuring that the design and construction of new developments is sensitive to local wildlife and habitats. Besides the specifications to preserve and maintain existing ecological features on site, it also includes specifications to enhance the site’s ecological value, by planting indigenous plant species in landscaped areas, and favouring the use of hedgerows and green barriers, etc. Sonae Sierra KPI Sonae Sierra has adopted proportion of completed development on previously developed land (by area) as the KPI to measure performance in relation to Land Use. See our performance over time.

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