Well-being Biodiversity in MQDC Projects

Biodiversity is critical in real estate development. Research & Innovation for Sustainability Center (RISC) has researched urban biodiversity and applied its findings with MQDC to develop the world's first biodiversity standard for real estate projects.
This standard has 4 elements: conducting a biodiversity survey prior to project implementation, conserving plants and moving animals to safe locations, encouraging biodiversity through design, and monitoring biodiversity after project completion.
In addition to conducting research and putting it into practice, RISC shares knowledge with the public to spread its approaches and boost urban biodiversity.

The database of all plant and animal species can be found at click.

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Biodiversity Standard: Building Sustainable Ecosystems Today’s real estate landscape, the true “value of nature” is often overlooked or unintentionally diminished as business priorities take precedence. Development commonly focuses on maximizing land for commercial gain while neglecting the natural assets lost along the way. As a result, design practices often become limited to simply meeting environmental regulations. Yet the world is giving us increasingly urgent warnings — from global warming to the accelerated loss of biodiversity — and these impacts will be unavoidable unless we change our mindset.MQDC firmly believes that when the planet loses its balance, we cannot thrive either. Real estate development is therefore more than constructing buildings; it is about “developing while restoring and regenerating nature.” Forests, food sources, and wildlife habitats are essential elements of truly sustainable development.A New Way of SeeingWhen approaching a project site, the first priority is not where buildings will stand, but recognizing “every form of life that existed there before us.” This includes the original ecosystem, trees, soil, water sources, and all animal species that depend on the area for food and shelter.The Forestias project provided MQDC and RISC with hands-on experience in creating an urban forest and functioning ecosystem. This learning evolved into a new development philosophy — one that not only minimizes harm but actively expands natural habitats and increases biodiversity beyond their original state. From this foundation, RISC developed Thailand’s first Biodiversity Standard for real estate development, built on 4 key steps: 1. Pre-project biodiversity surveyFlora and fauna specialists conduct detailed ecological assessments across all three seasons to understand year-round dynamics. This provides a complete picture of species diversity, migration routes, and ecological interactions within the project area before any development begins.2. Tree protection and animal relocationBefore construction starts, experts create a comprehensive tree relocation plan. Trees are carefully removed, nurtured off-site, and replanted during the build phase. At the same time, structured relocation efforts for aquatic animals, reptiles, turtles, and other wildlife ensure that every species is moved safely, without unintended harm or loss.3. Biodiversity-friendly designSurvey data is integrated into the master plan to restore the original ecosystem and re-establish ecological functions that may have been lost. This includes designing plant layers, selecting native species, and planning for year-on-year increases in biodiversity. These indicators become core metrics for evaluating the success of ecological design.4. Ongoing biodiversity monitoringAssessments are conducted continuously — before development, during construction, and after completion. This long-term monitoring tracks changes in plant and animal populations and helps guide improvements to green spaces, ensuring the project meets its biodiversity goals.Nature, Quality of Life, and a Legacy of SustainabilityAll of these efforts reflect MQDC’s commitment to creating not just high-quality real estate, but living environments that restore ecological balance — urban forests and wildlife habitats where people and nature can thrive together.We believe green spaces and water bodies act as “natural corridors” that revive urban biodiversity while nurturing communities where people feel deeply connected to nature. Strong family bonds, compassion, and environmental respect flourish where ecosystems are healthy.When surrounding nature thrives, MQDC communities enjoy greater well-being — and this sustainability can be passed from generation to generation. Landscapes enriched with natural diversity become more than projects; they become legacies that grow alongside people and the planet.Story by Dr. Jittapat Choruengwiwat, Senior Vice President of RISC

By RISC | 2 weeks ago