BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE ADAPTION
Designing with nature is not a style – it’s a responsibility.
Schønherr provides consultancy on climate adaptation and biodiversity — and the interplay between them — delivering solutions that meet EU taxonomy requirements and enhance urban and landscape resilience to increased water volumes through bothtechnical measures and nature-based design.
ENHANCING NATURE AND BIODIVERSITY
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
– Lao Tzu
The protection and enhancement of natural habitats and ecological connectivity are fundamental to the future of both urban and rural landscapes. Schønherr works with the restoration and rehabilitation of natural environments - including wetlands, meadows, grasslands, and forests - and develops biodiversity strategies that prioritise habitat creation, ecological corridors, and a careful balance between conservation and use across cities and open landscapes.
We provide ecological monitoring and impact assessments in collaboration with biologists, documenting species and tracking ecological changes over time. We also develop communication strategies, interpretive design, and facilitate local co-creation processes that foster ownership, learning, and long-term engagement in nature-based projects.
RESILIENT COASTAL AND RURAL LANDSCAPES
“Climate change is not just about weather - it’s about food, water, land, and life.”
– Christiana Figueres
Schønherr offers integrated climate planning that incorporates seawater, rainwater, and groundwater into local and regional strategies. In collaboration with engineers, we develop masterplans, buffer zones, and natural retention systems aligned with municipal, wastewater, and climate adaptation plans.
Using GIS-based analyses, hydrological models, and geotechnical screenings, we map risks related to extreme rainfall, flooding, urban heat islands, and andslides. Scenarios and solutions are clearly communicated through thematic maps, 3D models, and infographics.
We harness natural processes through wetland restoration, afforestation, and climate-resilient landscape design with recreational value. Our work is interdisciplinary and process-oriented, based on co-creation through landowner engagement, workshops, and stakeholder coordination.
ADAPTING CITIES TO CLIMATE CHALLENGES
“Cities must act as front runners in climate adaptation — not just to prevent damage, but to create better, greener places to live.”
– Connie Hedegaard
Schønherr delivers robust, value-creating climate adaptation solutions for urban areas, addressing sea level rise, extreme rainfall, and rising groundwater in close collaboration with municipalities and utility providers. We provide site-specific designs using simple, durable materials - ranging from large-scale planning to local, decentralised interventions that mitigate flooding while enhancing green, recreational urban spaces.
Through zoning and prioritisation, we identify areas for water retention, conveyance, and protection. Our designs integrate green roofs, permeable surfaces, rain gardens, and blue-green infrastructure to support infiltration, biodiversity, and urban heat mitigation.
We apply hydrological modelling tools to analyse and map water flow and flood risks, and communicate results through thematic maps, 3D models, andinfographics. In addition, we facilitate workshops and public engagement processes, and support citizen-driven pilot projects and local testing of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS).
