Connecting Vegetation Management & Ecosystem Accounting in Grid Planning

Across Europe, Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and Distribution System Operators (DSOs) are already demonstrating that operational practices such as IVM can go far beyond compliance. From Portugal to Austria, innovative approaches are showing how corridor management can enhance grid resilience, reduce costs, and restore ecosystems – while also strengthening relationships with local communities. These experiences highlight a broader opportunity: to reposition grid corridors as assets that generate ecological, social, and economic value.

At the same time, a critical challenge remains. How can these practices be translated into robust, decision-relevant information that supports planning, regulation, and investment?

Connecting Vegetation Management & Ecosystem Accounting in Grid Planning

Co-organised with the Global Initiative for Nature, Grids and Renewables (GINGR), the webinar aimed at highlighting how operational practices can move beyond compliance to generate measurable biodiversity gains, strengthen community value, and support more resilient infrastructure decisions.

Participants learned how operational practices can move beyond compliance to generate measurable biodiversity gains, strengthen community value, and support more resilient infrastructure decisions. 

Across research, implementation, and governance perspectives, the session connected practical monitoring approaches to the wider challenge of integrating biodiversity and ecosystem services into grid operations. 

There was significant interest in the SEEA EA framework as a practical bridge between field-level action and strategic decision-making. Through real-world examples and tools such as spatial conservation planning, speakers demonstrated how biodiversity, ecosystem services, and operational data can be integrated into consistent indicators and monitoring approaches across countries and organisations. 

The session highlighted ongoing challenges around harmonising biodiversity metrics, establishing consistent baselines, and aligning reporting frameworks. While companies are generally open to using these approaches internally, there remains caution around publishing detailed results and achieving cross-sector standardisation.   

Overall, the exchange reflected a community that is ready to move from concept to implementation, with SEEA EA offering a promising backbone – yet still seeking clear guidance, aligned metrics, and practical tools to enable an energy transition that strengthens biodiversity and benefits communities. 

For more on how GINGR is building indicators for Nature- and People-Positive outcomes in linear infrastructure, we warmly invite you to get in touch.