Lorenzo Franzoni, UIC, presented EU-RAIL SYMBIOSIS Project
The SYMBIOSIS project was presented at session “ The Tracks of Harmony: Nature & Rail – Sustainable Land Use Day
More than 60 participants explored key topics, from biodiversity data standardisation to alternative vegetation control, wildlife collisions and birds’ protection. EBRD and Asian Development Bank (ADB) shared insights on biodiversity criteria for infrastructure funding, while Jernhusen AB and Rail Baltica I RB Rail AS highlighted best practices, and AtkinsRéalis provided insights on the UIC ECOV4R project and its work on ecosystem services.UIC shared updates on the EU-RAIL SYMBIOSIS project, outlining progress across key Work Packages and inviting experts to join its stakeholder groups. Highlights included advancements in communication and dissemination, upcoming events and workshops, and reviews of impact assessment case studies and railway climate adaptation plans. Participants also learned about the ongoing biodiversity monitoring survey and the setup of an automated biodiversity data collection tool using train-mounted cameras. Finally, the latest work on sustainable transport’s societal challenges was addressed, including a literature review on sector-specific issues and the starting of activities on the integration of biodiversity into corporate strategies, procurement processes, and supply chains.
The Austrian Ministry of Climate Action and Environment outlined infrastructure’s role in the achievement of the 2030 Biodiversity Strategy, and Rhätische Bahn tackled the challenges of TNFD reporting
✅ Experts must speak a common language on biodiversity challenges.
✅ Collaboration is key—working in silos is not an option.
