Natural Capital

In addition to our “Ferrovial, Natural Capital” program, the company develops different projects related to biodiversity. The aim is to evaluate and mitigate the impact on the natural spaces and ecosystems affected by our activity, anticipate market trends and take advantage of potential opportunities.

We work with a range of scientific institutions (CSIC, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid, USAL) to develop a corporate-scale methodology to measure our company’s impact on natural capital and therefore on biodiversity.

This occurs within the framework of a project known as Corporate Ecosystem Valuation, which introduces the concepts of natural capital, ecosystem services and biodiversity as elements for assessing our organization’s dependence and impact on those concepts from a qualitative, quantitative and monetary standpoint

The goal is to provide a distinct and replicable evaluation method applicable to all activities, which can then serve as a tool for decision-making and incorporates the no net loss criterion.

This tool will enable correct application of the mitigation hierarchy with the intention of restoring and offsetting impacts on ecosystems, while preventing and minimizing the level of those impacts. Once the appropriate method has been designed, a trial will commence on specific contracts. After the trial, the method will be automated so that evaluation is completed systematically.

We also participate in the public-private partnership Iniciativa Española Empresa y Biodiversidad (Spanish Business and Biodiversity Initiative) project with Fundación Biodiversidad and the Ministry for Ecological Transition.

We are also a partner of WWF, with whom we produced the Guide for Timber Procurement. This guide features references and a range of resources and tools geared towards aiding adaption to the changes taking place in the sector for legal and responsible trade in forest resources. The final aim is to establish traceability procedures which can guarantee the legal origin of timber resources, thereby ensuring their conservation. In 2011, we signed a commitment for responsible procurement of timber products in spite of the fact that the volume of such products is of low significance to our company when compared to other types of materials, even though it is viewed as a critical material due to its nature. Since Ferrovial Construction is the group’s largest consumer of these types of products, and to ensure compliance with the targets set, this division uses an in-house procedure to guarantee the origin of timber used by its suppliers on-site.

Moreover, we support different initiatives that align our biodiversity strategy with national and European policies, goals and plans. Under these terms, Ferrovial Construction applies a specific procedure for quantitative risk assessment linked to protected or high-ecological-value areas, while it also implements measures required for risk mitigation and monitoring.Regarding the emerging biodiversity markets, we have been delving deeper into different existing offsetting mechanisms. We are currently keeping a watch on the development of new legal frameworks, especially in the countries of Spain and the United Kingdom.

DOWNLOAD OUR COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE TIMBER PROCUREMENT

Biodiversity Policy

FERROVIAL recognizes the key role that biodiversity plays in the provision of ecosystem services that support the economy and social well-being.

Principles

• Regulatory framework. Compliance with current biodiversity legislation and regulations applicable in the different regions where we operate, as well as with the contractual requirements established with customers.
• Conservation and protection. Identification of protected areas and threatened species. Application of mitigation hierarchy criteria (avoid, minimize, restore, and compensate). Implementation of environmental management systems that include impact reduction, conservation, and protection measures in projects, paying special attention to protected areas or areas of high biodiversity value.
• Natural resources. Management, eco-efficiency, and responsible use of natural resources.
• Fight against deforestation. Actions to combat deforestation associated with activities and the supply chain through the restoration and reforestation of degraded areas and the purchase of certified timber.
• Risk. Integration of biodiversity and natural capital management into the company’s risk strategy.
• Targets and monitoring. Establishment of targets, monitoring procedures and strategies that allow control, assessment, and continuous improvement of management. 
• Training, awareness-raising, and disclosure. Training and awareness-raising for the actors involved in the different stages of the projects. Disclosure of the results of integrated management of biodiversity and natural capital.
• Stakeholder engagement. Promotion of stakeholder engagement aiming to boost global strategies and actions to raise awareness, conservation, and protection of biodiversity.

We extend compliance with these principles to all subcontractors providing services within the scope of our projects.

BIODIVERSITY POLICY Catalogue of Biodiversity Initiatives Fauna 2022 Catalogue of Biodiversity Initiatives Flora 2022

Practical Guide to Ecology Restoration

We have collaborated in the elaboration of the Practical Guide to Ecology Restoration in the framework of the Spanish Business and Biodiversity Initiative (Iniciativa Española Empresa y Biodiversidad—IEEB). This initiative, which includes input from businesses like Endesa, Iberdrola, lafargeHolcim, OHL and Naturgy, aims to be a methodological tool used to strengthen and recover natural resources.

GUIDE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY