ALIGN Publications

Inclusion of Natural Resource Safeguards in Planning Course Curriculum

Designed for the Master’s degree in Planning at Sushant University, the "Inclusion of Natural Resource Safeguards in Planning Course Curriculum" underscores the importance of Industry-Academia collaboration, aims to strengthen the role of environmental conservation in long-term development, and hopes to inspire the next generation of planners to integrate conservation with development.

This collaboration has been made possible by the generous support of faculties, management and experts at Sushant University.

Policy Brief: Forest Conservation Jurisprudence in India 

The policy brief on forest conservation jurisprudence in India sheds light on The Indian Forest Act, 1927 and its evolution through Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The document includes the definition of "forest" under Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act 2023 and the forest clearance process required for developmental activities. Likewise, notable judgements regarding forest clearances for linear infrastructure development are discussed in the brief.

Guidelines for Linear Infrastructure in Snow Leopard Landscapes

Linear infrastructure—such as roads, railways, and power lines—poses an array of threats to snow leopards, including habitat fragmentation, wildlife-vehicle collisions, the introduction of pathogens and pollutants, and more. Forthcoming guidelines will engage decision-makers and practitioners to not only protect snow leopards and their prey, but also preserve ecosystems that provide invaluable benefits for people, nature, and our climate.

Biodiversity and Infrastructure Investing publication

Biodiversity loss is a critical global issue that threatens our well-being and livelihoods. While infrastructure investors have made strides in integrating ESG considerations, there's a pressing need to better measure and mitigate investments' impacts on biodiversity. Biodiversity loss, driven by climate change, habitat change, pollution, resource use, and invasive species spread, creates significant risks for infrastructure and economic resilience.

In a joint effort with Oliver Wyman, ALIGN developed a white paper titled “Biodiversity and Infrastructure Investing: How infrastructure investors are factoring biodiversity impacts into decision-making.” This paper shows how infrastructure investors and their advisors can incorporate biodiversity into investing. It explores approaches used to assess biodiversity impacts and investor rationale for considering these risks in decision-making, presenting perspectives on the outlook for further progress and where improvement is of most value.

Handbook to Mitigate the Impacts of Roads and Railways on Asian Elephants

One of the greatest threats to Asian elephants is habitat loss and fragmentation, particularly resulting from human activities. With the profusion of current and planned linear infrastructure like roads and railways breaking up wildlife habitats across the continent, collisions with cars and trains are becoming more of a threat to Asian elephants. Elephants also have large ranges through which they travel, and this fragmentation is increasingly disrupting their movement.

This handbook is the first elephant-specific handbook to help countries reduce collisions and provide safe passage for elephants. It aims to provide workable solutions for transportation planners and engineers to protect Asian elephants from the negative impacts of roads and railways.

The handbook was published by the Asian Elephant Transport Working Group—a joint collaboration of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group and the IUCN Species Survival Commission Asian Elephant Specialist Group—and its development was supported in part by the ALIGN Project.

A Playbook for Nature-Positive Infrastructure Development

WWF and FIDIC (the International Federation of Consulting Engineers) have teamed up to develop the Playbook for Nature-positive Infrastructure Development, with AECOM delivering as technical partner. Launched in September 2023, the Playbook is designed to help engineering and conservation practitioners better understand the opportunities and constraints associated with nature-positive infrastructure design and is meant to contribute to the important and growing broader dialogue around the concept of nature-positive.

The Playbook is built around the analysis of nearly 200 existing projects implemented around the world and allows readers to consider solutions by sectors, benefits, or types of nature-positive infrastructure solutions. It provides insight into the current state of play regarding nature-positive infrastructure development and, importantly, is designed to be a living document that will be updated and enhanced as the true potential of nature-based solutions for infrastructure sectors is explored.

In June 2024, the playbook won an Environment Analyst’s Sustainability Delivery Award in the Nature Positive category.

Please see here for the added section on procurement. This chapter aims to help users understand the impact of their supply chain and start to establish clear goals and objectives for active engagement with their key suppliers and service providers.

Read more from Evan Freund, Sr Director of Sustainable Infrastructure and Finance, WWF, on why we need this Playbook.

Addressing ecological connectivity in the development of roads, railways and canals

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – the world’s premier biodiversity organization – has released its first in-depth publication on the challenges and solutions of safeguarding biodiversity during linear transport infrastructure (LTI) development: ‘Addressing ecological connectivity in the development of roads, railways and canals.’ The technical report, by IUCN’s World Commission on Protected Areas’ (WCPA) Connectivity Conservation Specialist Group and its Transport Working Group in collaboration with the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, provides information critical for the conservation of wildlife and the protection of nature in the face of rapid LTI development sweeping the globe. It includes an overview of practical, feasible science-based strategies for PCA managers, transport practitioners, industry, conservationists, and other interested stakeholders, and promotes best practices for the various phases of infrastructure development.

Protecting Asian Elephants from Linear Transport Infrastructure

Across the 13 countries where endangered Asian elephants still roam, habitats and movement corridors are increasingly being fragmented by infrastructure like roads, rails, and canals. Collisions leading to both human and animal deaths are also more common. There is great need for a better understanding of the impacts of human development on elephant habitat connectivity, and what measures can be taken to avoid or mitigate future conflicts. To enhance understanding of the issues and potential solutions, the Asian Elephant Transport Working Group (AsETWG) published this report. The result of collaboration among infrastructure ecologists and elephant biologists, the report highlights recommendations for advancing conservation efforts, policy, and research. It also includes a collection of informative case studies highlighting solutions.

Wildlife Vehicle Collision Reduction and Habitat Connectivity Pooled Fund Study

The Wildlife Vehicle Collision Reduction and Habitat Connectivity Pooled Fund Study is the largest transportation pooled fund study in North America to date, focused on the interaction of wildlife with roads. It sought to identify cost-effective solutions that integrate highway safety and mobility with wildlife conservation and habitat connectivity. It includes 14 final reports available for download along with other project resources based on the research, such as presentations, webinar recordings, and peer-reviewed journal articles. The pooled fund study was led by the Nevada Department of Transportation with 12 other contributing U.S. and Canadian federal, state, provincial, or nonprofit partners. The ALIGN partner Center for Large Landscape Conservation coauthored a literature review and best practices manual for the study.