Page 16 - LandscapeSA Issue 108

FEATURE

EmIRA SuppORTS

BIODIVERSITY pRESERVATION

Emira Property Fund has made meaningful progress on its biodiversity policy

in consultation with the Biodiversity Disclosure Project and the Endangered
Wildlife Trust. This builds on its impacts of being at the forefront of environmental
sustainability in South Africa’s listed property sector.

EO Geoff Jennett says that the (BD Protocol) three years ago, creating to urbanisation, cultivation or road
company aims to enhance its a framework to enable organisations to building, less than 32% of this vegetation
Cbiodiversity plan even further as measure, account for and manage their type remains untransformed – a figure
they continue on their journey to protect impacts on biodiversity. The protocol that is rapidly nearing the national 24%
the natural environment. South Africa’s was finalised earlier this year and Emira target for conservation protection of this
natural ecosystems are under pressure and immediately undertook a biodiversity vegetation type. Only 3% of Egoli granite
there is a need for greater environmental audit and pilot project at its head office grassland is conserved in statutory
sustainability, locally and globally. “Emira building in Knightsbridge, Bryanston, nature reserves, which means that
strives for positive environmental impacts Johannesburg. Knightsbridge is located in an area where
by working with others towards shared there is an urgent need for biodiversity
ecological goals,” he states. Knightsbridge is located in the Egoli preservation and restoration.
granite grassland which is unique to
The Biodiversity Disclosure Project (BDP) Gauteng and classified as critically Emira engaged ecologists at The
began its biological diversity protocol endangered by SANBI (2019). Due Biodiversity Company for the audit, and

14 Landscape SA • Issue 108 2021