Pearl Building Rating System - Estidama

Calculations and
Methodology
The Habitat Creation or Restoration Strategy must describe the following:
� The existing condition of the habitat creation or restoration area and the impacts
that have caused or are continuing to cause the degradation or loss of habitat on
the site.
� The habitat to be created or restored, including justification for the habitat type.
� Plans illustrating the location of the habitat creation / restoration area. Mark other
existing or proposed areas of the same, or similar, habitat type and description of
any existing or proposed connections between them.
� A description of the structure and function of the habitat type, including interrelationships
between topography, soil, microclimate, light and shade, flora and
fauna and minimum habitat size for effective habitat function.
� A strategy for re-creation of the structure and function of the habitat type, linked
to a series of KPIs providing the measurement tool for monitoring success of habitat
creation or restoration of the site. These must be based on the KPIs established in
NS-R1 and are to include the following as a minimum:
o Soil;
o Flora;
o Fauna;
o Microclimate;
o Topography and views;
o Drainage; and
o Minimum habitat size for effective habitat function.
� Plant palette to be used.
� The methodology for habitat creation or restoration, including grading, soil
restoration and seeding or planting of the site and the proposed strategies to
mitigate the existing degrading factors.
� A 10 year monitoring and management strategy, including monitoring of soil
conditions, health, species diversity and abundance (to be incorporated into NS-
R3).
The species qualifying for this credit must be native or adaptive plant species and
drought and / or saline tolerant, with a proven track record to survive and thrive in an
environment similar to the proposed site.
Appropriate candidate areas for habitat creation or restoration include but are not
limited to the following Priority Habitats: Intertidal Mudflats, Mangroves, Vegetated
Sandy Beaches, Seagrass, Coral, Wadis, Sand Sheets and Low Dunes, Interdunal Plains
and High Dunes, Alluvial Plains, Jebels, or other significant habitat types.
Where possible, the habitat type to be created must be located in one area of the site
and be connected to the same or similar habitat type either within the site or adjacent
to the site.
The Credit can also be awarded if a combination of on-site and off-site measures have
been implemented but this has to be cleared in advance by the UPC.
Ecological corridors may be fragmented by roads up to Boulevard width, as defined by
the UPC Urban Street Design Manual. Underpasses or ‘green bridges’ must be provided
under/over highways to provide continuous habitat.
References See NS-R1 Natural Systems Assessment
Pearl Building Rating System: Design & Construction, Version 1.0, April 2010 48 of 223