Biodiversity

Natural spaces are under pressure in inhabited areas. The extensive green spaces at airports contribute to the diversity of habitats and species. Zurich Airport Ltd. takes compensatory measures if ecologically valuable land is used.

Relevance

Biodiversity is defined as the diversity of species and living environments. It is one of the core focus areas when it comes to environmental protection at the Zurich site. The Zurich Airport Group is responsible for preserving existing habitats and biodiversity at all its sites. As site conditions vary, the starting point and priorities are unique to each site. What they all have in common is the intention to operate the airports with minimal negative impact on flora and fauna while implementing projects to promote ecological diversity. All sites also have a legal obligation to compensate for unavoidable interference with the biosphere by other means.

As well as safety and operational considerations, international regulations also include specific requirements or recommendations with regard to the maintenance and conservation of green spaces within airports. Together with nature conservation stipulations in local legislation, these form the framework for how Zurich Airport Ltd. manages green areas.

As the airport at the Zurich site was originally built in the middle of reed meadows, its perimeter still encompasses extensive areas that are of especially high ecological value. Around half of the 953-hectare area covered by the SAIP perimeter (perimeter as specified by the Sectoral Aviation Infrastructure Plan, Zurich Airport detailed plan (Objektblatt)) is green. Thanks to the airport fence, a mosaic of different habitats provides animals and plants – in some cases rare ones – with a home where they can be largely undisturbed. A total of 74 hectares are designated nature conservation areas, including wetlands of national importance. The company aims to preserve these habitats within the airport perimeter, especially since they are of a nature and quality that has become something of a rarity elsewhere in the central plateau.

Brazil’s airports are also located adjacent to sensitive ecosystems, including coasts (Florianópolis, Vitória, Macaé) and rainforest (Natal), which need to be preserved. In Noida, India, natural areas that are home to protected species were used for the construction of the new airport. At its two sites in Chile, the airfields along with their development and maintenance are in the hands of the authorities.

Approach

At its Zurich site, Zurich Airport Ltd. is doing everything necessary to preserve the ecological value of the protected areas within the airport perimeter and to meet the associated conservation goals defined by the authorities. The protected areas include wetlands with various habitats and wooded areas. Cultivation of extensive tracts of the remaining airport grounds as high-grass meadows is in fact in the interests of both airfield operations and nature conservation. (see Bird strikes).

When Zurich Airport Ltd. plans to build on green areas, the ecological value of these areas is measured using recognised methods. As part of the subsequent construction project, the company then offsets this by compensatory measures of equal value elsewhere. It aims to create areas with high-quality habitats appropriate to the location wherever possible, for example ones considered a priority by the federal government.

The largest project of this kind is the upgrading of the Glatt, the river to the west of the airport, with which Zurich Airport Ltd. is offsetting several construction projects. Construction work on the Glatt will begin in 2025 and is expected to be completed in 2027.

In the reporting year, Zurich Airport Ltd. took further measures at the Zurich site to increase the diversity of species and habitats within the airport perimeter. For example, targeted measures are being taken to promote the conservation of the sand lizard at suitable sites in the Airport Park, which is accessible via the Circle.

Preserving biodiversity and the ecological value of green spaces at airports is also an important issue in Brazil. In India, where the airport under construction in Noida likewise incorporates large green spaces, work was carried out in the reporting year on a concept for preserving the ecological value of these spaces around the airport. The blackbuck, or Indian antelope, and the sarus crane were defined as index species on which efforts to protect habitats are focused. Comprehensive monitoring covering soil, drinking water, wastewater, air quality and noise feeds into monthly reports documenting the associated impacts so countermeasures can be taken quickly if necessary. During construction, particular attention was paid to the preservation of the valuable topsoil, which was protected by numerous measures.

Bird strikes

With its wooded areas, watercourses and large open spaces, Zurich Airport also attracts a large number of bird species. However, large birds and flocking birds in particular can present a safety risk for aircraft. Collisions between birds and aircraft (known as bird strikes) can have very serious consequences and so must be avoided at all costs. This also applies to the sites in Brazil, Chile and India.

Various steps are taken at the Zurich site to make the airfield less attractive to birds that pose a particular risk to safety in an effort to avoid potential collisions. One tactic is to cultivate most of the open areas as extensive high-grass meadows; this approach is also taken at the company’s airports in Brazil. This is both environmentally friendly and also helps to prevent bird strikes as the high grass makes it difficult for birds of prey to spot their prey on the ground. It also discourages flocking birds from settling there. Specific steps have also been taken to reduce the birds’ food supply – for instance weasels especially are encouraged because they compete with birds of prey in hunting mice. In Brazil, falcons are used at the Florianópolis and Vitória sites to gently scare off individual birds.