ECOV4R pilot assessment - High speed line between Valladolid and León, Spain

The Ecosystem Valuation for Railways (ECOV4R) Framework document aims to support the assessment of ecosystem services affected by and/or provided by railway infrastructure. To illustrate the practical use of the ECOV4R Framework, two pilot assessments from two project partners have been undertaken to demonstrate how ecosystem services assessments can be applied to decision-making at project level. The pilot assessment technical reports are intended to be read together with the Framework to help showcase the steps of ECOV4R. The intended audience for these pilot assessment reports is similar to those listed in Section 1.1.3 of the ECOV4R Framework, but the assessments are specifically aimed at guiding and supporting audiences intending to put the Framework into practice.

This document presents a retrospective application of the ECOV4R Framework to the Palencia–León high-speed rail project in Spain, managed by Administrador de Infraestructura Ferroviaria (ADIF). This rail section has already been constructed and upgraded. Developed in collaboration with ADIF and UIC, the assessment demonstrates how each step of the ECOV4R Framework can be integrated into infrastructure planning – even after project completion – using data from the original Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The ECOV4R Framework has been applied to assess the impact of the environmental mitigation measures that were implemented (e.g. wetland creation, afforestation). This document provides background information for the pilot project and demonstrates how each step of the ECOV4R Framework can be achieved, as well as providing recommended next steps for the pilot project as a result of the ecosystem services assessment. 

By applying steps retrospectively, this case study demonstrates the Framework’s flexibility and value in supporting evidence-based decision-making, enhancing the business case for nature-based solutions, and informing future railway infrastructure projects.