“Calculations that used to take us a week are now done in minutes. That saves us a huge amount of time and money.”
Ecological research & area-wide permits
Nature-positive sustainability mapped
Strategic plan to protect protected species during renovation and new build. Area-wide environmental permits for nature-positive sustainability: speed up your projects while preserving biodiversity.
- Ecological research
- SMP development
- Permit acceleration
Why Species Management Plans matter
Protected species are essential for a healthy living environment. An area-wide environmental permit speeds up sustainability projects and reduces administrative burden. With an SMP you can accelerate sustainability without harming biodiversity.
Permit
Area-wide
Sustainability
Project acceleration
Nature
Protected species
Speed
Less administration
How the Species Management Plan works
Ecologists and permitting officers see protected species and habitats per area. Determine whether an area-wide permit is possible and which measures are needed.
Make protected species workable
Bring species, habitats, interventions and compensation together in a map environment for SMP applications, permits and delivery.
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The double challenge: sustainability and nature law
Municipalities and housing associations face a double challenge: make homes sustainable and comply with strict nature legislation. National government has made funds available to support municipalities and provinces in developing their SMP.
The problem without an SMP
- Separate permits for each project
- Delay to insulation and sustainability
- Administrative burden for construction firms
- Risk to nature-positive building
The solution with an SMP
- One area-wide environmental permit
- Acceleration of sustainability projects
- Less administrative burden
- Strengthen nature value
What is a Species Management Plan?
An SMP is a strategic plan with which municipalities or provinces arrange in one go how protected species such as bats, house sparrows and swifts are protected during renovation and new build. Instead of separate permits per project, an area-wide environmental permit applies, often for ten years.
Ecological research
Year-round inventory of species present with professional ecologists and citizen science.
Measures and compensation
Nest boxes, bat bricks built in, and rules for work during breeding season.
Monitoring and adjustment
Structural follow-up of populations and adjustment where needed for optimal nature value.
Practical benefits
Time saving
Save 1.5 to 2 years on separate permit processes.
Less administration
One generic permit instead of dozens of separate ones.
More nature value
Better protection and strengthening of biodiversity.
Stakeholder involvement
Citizen science and participation in nature management.
DZHK makes it workable
Mapping species is often the most labour-intensive part of an SMP. DZHK helps by linking ecological data to sustainability opportunities.
Ecological data
Protected species, breeding sites and migration routes.
Sustainability opportunities
Suitable roofs for insulation and solar panels.
Integrated planning
Bring nature and sustainability together.
“The Netherlands has more than 1,200 protected animal species. Without good protection we lose 3-4% of our biodiversity annually.”
1,247
Protected species
Species protection
€54M
National SMP subsidy
Complex regulation
1.5M
Homes off gas
Sustainability task
Species Management Plan: nature-positive sustainability
A comprehensive approach for municipalities taking biodiversity seriously. From ecological research to permit acceleration: professional support for nature-positive construction projects.
Ecological research
Extensive inventory of protected species with professional ecologists and modern detection methods.
- Year-round monitoring
- Citizen science integration
- Species recognition
- Habitat analysis
SMP development
Professional drafting of species management plans with measures and compensation strategies.
- Area-wide approach
- Measure packages
- Permit optimisation
- Legal compliance
Permit acceleration
One area-wide environmental permit for all construction projects in the planning area.
- Generic permits
- Project acceleration
- Administrative simplification
- Legal certainty
Monitoring & evaluation
Structural monitoring of species populations and effectiveness of protection measures.
- Population monitoring
- Measure evaluation
- Adjustment advice
- Reporting
Advanced analysis capabilities
Data & reporting
- Automatic ecological reports
- Real-time species monitoring
- Benchmarking between areas
- Permit compliance dashboards
Planning & delivery
- Risk-based prioritisation
- Subsidy optimisation
- Stakeholder participation
- Project management support
Home renovation
- Area-based approach
- Permit acceleration
- Species protection
- Renovation optimisation
New build projects
- Nature-inclusive construction
- Biodiversity integration
- Permit efficiency
- Sustainable building process
Area development
- Area-wide planning
- Strengthen nature value
- Community building
- Sustainable living environment
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Fully integrated
Species Management Plan is seamlessly integrated into the DZHK platform, together with all your other sustainability data for one complete nature-positive sustainability picture.
Species Management Plan
What customers say
Experiences from organisations working with DZHK.
“We no longer present our expertise as dry reports, but as interactive map applications. Even people without technical knowledge can use them, which makes DZHK an essential foundation for policy-making.”
“DZHK has helped us make sustainability data accessible to everyone. The platform combines powerful visualisation with an easy user experience.”
“Together with MapGear (DZHK) we created a realistic forecast of solar potential in Groningen for 2035. We combine data on roofs, heat pumps, electric driving and policy choices for a reliable future picture.”
“Together with MapGear (DZHK) we developed the TransitiePlanner. It lets us collect, analyse and visualise data on energy use, climate adaptation and sustainable mobility. We are building a dynamic dossier for sustainable business parks.”
“DZHK has helped us plan and deliver our energy transition projects more efficiently.”
“With Asbestdakenkaart we finally have an overview of our asbestos data and remediation progress. One place to prioritise, monitor and report.”
“Calculations that used to take us a week are now done in minutes. That saves us a huge amount of time and money.”
“We no longer present our expertise as dry reports, but as interactive map applications. Even people without technical knowledge can use them, which makes DZHK an essential foundation for policy-making.”
“DZHK has helped us make sustainability data accessible to everyone. The platform combines powerful visualisation with an easy user experience.”
“Together with MapGear (DZHK) we created a realistic forecast of solar potential in Groningen for 2035. We combine data on roofs, heat pumps, electric driving and policy choices for a reliable future picture.”
“Together with MapGear (DZHK) we developed the TransitiePlanner. It lets us collect, analyse and visualise data on energy use, climate adaptation and sustainable mobility. We are building a dynamic dossier for sustainable business parks.”
“DZHK has helped us plan and deliver our energy transition projects more efficiently.”
“With Asbestdakenkaart we finally have an overview of our asbestos data and remediation progress. One place to prioritise, monitor and report.”
Get started with an SMP
Request a demo or discuss how maps and data accelerate your SMP process.
Frequently asked questions
Answers about Species Management Plan.
- When is an SMP mandatory or recommended?
- An SMP is especially useful for area-based sustainability (renovation, new build, solar-on-roof) where protected species may occur. It offers an area-wide approach so not every project needs separate ecological research. We help determine whether an SMP makes sense for your area.
- How long does developing an SMP take?
- On average 6-12 months, depending on the area and number of species. With our data and tools you can shorten the process and target ecological research more effectively.
- Is subsidy available for an SMP?
- Yes. National government makes funds available for municipalities developing an SMP. Provinces often have schemes too. We can advise on how best to substantiate your application with our maps and analyses.
- What if species populations or the area change?
- A good SMP includes monitoring and adjustment: agreements on repeated counts and adapting measures. That keeps your permit future-proof and meets the duty of care.
Duurzaamheidskaart products are already used by:
Trusted by municipalities, provinces and organisations in the Netherlands and Belgium
Contact us
Want to know what we can do for your organisation? Contact us for a no-obligation demo. Special requirements? No problem — leave your details below.