Biodiversity and sustainable real estate news
The Biodiversity Performance Score (BPS) and the PERSICAIRE method share a field-based approach and an ecological analysis of sites. However, their purposes differ: PERSICAIRE provides a rapid assessment of biodiversity in small areas, without any normative intent. The BPS, on the other hand, scientifically measures ecological performance and links it to project governance. These two tools are complementary: one describes, the other certifies.
Two ecological approaches in the field, but very different objectives
The Biodiversity Performance Score (BPS) and the PERSICAIRE method share a common goal: to assess the ecological quality of sites based on real-world observations. However, their purpose and scope are not comparable. PERSICAIRE is a simplified ecological diagnostic method designed to characterize environments at a small scale. The BPS, developed by IRICE, is a scientific tool for measuring ecological performance, aligned with international environmental governance standards. These two field tools are complementary, but their scope is radically different.
1. PERSICAIRE: a simplified assessment tool for living organisms
The PERSICAIRE method, developed by a group of ecologists, was designed to assess the ecological quality of small sites: gardens, wastelands, areas surrounding buildings, and sparsely vegetated urban areas. It is based on a rapid and qualitative assessment of ecological components:
- habitat identification,
- summary floristic survey
- observation of visible wildlife
- assessment of ecological continuities,
- analysis of management practices.
The assessment results in a composite score describing the ecological status of the site. This score is obtained by a qualified observer, based on a simplified grid and field data. PERSICAIRE is therefore an educational tool, useful for raising awareness and prioritizing management actions, but it is neither certifying nor normative.
2. The Biodiversity Performance Score: a scientific and certifiable measure
The Biodiversity Performance Score (BPS), developed by IRICE, is a comprehensive scientific indicator designed to measure the actual ecological performance of real estate, urban, or landscape projects. It is based on more than 50 criteria structured around six fundamental requirements:
- Soil preservation,
- Development of plant heritage,
- Support for local wildlife,
- Reduction of the project's impacts,
- Ecological management of the site.
The BPS integrates quantitative data (soil surveys, connectivity, diversity indices, ecological continuities) and qualitative data (management, governance, awareness). The final result is a score out of 100 points, representing the site's true ecological value. The protocol is traceable, reproducible, and compatible with Effinature certification, accredited to ISO/IEC 17065.
3. Two very different scales of application
| Dimension | Persicaire Method | Biodiversity Performance Score (BPS) |
| Supported by | Collective of ecologists | IRICE (independent scientific body) |
| Tool type | simplified diagnosis | Scientific and certifiable indicator |
| Data | Qualitative field observations | Quantitative and verified measurements |
| Objective | Raising awareness and prioritizing issues | Evaluation and measurement of ecological performance |
| Ladder | Garden, wasteland, small urban site | Development operation, real estate project, territory |
| Methodology | Simplified reading grid | Standardized protocol with 52 criteria |
| Governance | Local, community-based | Independent, accreditable |
| Result | Indicative score | A verifiable and enforceable score |
The PERSICAIRE method is suitable for rapid diagnostics or territorial education. The BPS aims for precise measurement and scientific comparability, usable for certification, ESG reporting, or green finance.
4. Scientific and institutional positioning
The BPS was designed as an interface between ecological science and project governance. It is compatible with the CSRD, TNFD, SBTN frameworks and the 21 High-Level Principles of the World Economic Forum. Its objective is not only to describe, but also to quantify the project's contribution to biodiversity, using indicators that are comparable from one site to another.
PERSICAIRE, on the other hand, favors a naturalistic and descriptive approach, without any normative pretensions. It promotes the understanding of ecosystems, but provides neither a standardized basis for comparison nor any enforceable guarantee.
5. Complementarity between diagnosis and certification
The two approaches can coexist:
- PERSICAIRE can be used upstream, to draw up an initial ecological diagnosis, raise awareness and guide management decisions.
- BPS then intervenes to objectively measure performance and certify the ecological compliance of the project.
This approach makes it possible to combine local knowledge and institutional recognition, linking field science to project governance.
6. In conclusion
The Biodiversity Performance Score (BPS) and the PERSICAIRE method share a naturalistic approach to the field, but respond to different uses.
- PERSICAIRE raises awareness and provides guidance.
- BPS measures and certifies.
The first reflects a desire for observation. The second, a demand for proof. Together, they embody the sector's new maturity: moving from an intuitive understanding of living organisms to an ecological assessment based on data and independent verification.