MERLIN Properties Annual Report 2023

MERLIN Properties | 103 MERLIN is firmly committed to preserving the environment, and the Group actively contributes to helping to improve the environment in its daily activities. MERLIN carries out comprehensive assessments of and minimises potential adverse impacts on biodiversity throughout the life cycle of its assets, with special attention to newbuilds and relocations. To achieve this, it proposes measures that will preserve biodiversity and prioritises using indigenous plant species and avoiding exotic species in the landscaped areas of its various assets. In addition, an intrinsic part of the Group's expansion strategy is avoiding deforestation in its newbuild and relocation projects, instead opting to acquire land in urban settings or previously improved land, a reflection of its commitment to conserving natural ecosystems. In addition, MERLIN Properties has no substantial involvement in ecosystem and/ or abiotic services either in its internal operations, in its supply chain, or in the process of building/refurbishing buildings and managing existing ones. Section 6.2 discusses the Company's relationship with community suppliers and job creation in detail. In addition, section 4.3 sets forth a comprehensive description of its development and operation of assets that satisfy sustainability criteria. The actions carried out by the Group in this area are as follows: MERLIN manages various urban gardens in the common areas of its properties where the Group has begun promoting actions to preserve biodiversity, e.g., installing insect hotels, bird houses, and bat houses. With regard to biodiversity in developments and refurbishments, MERLIN studies the ecological value of the environment and proposes measures for its conservation. Priority is given to native plant species in the landscaped areas around their assets and exotic species are avoided.