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SS category encourages the creation of biodiverse green spaces while mitigating public health risks associated with rising temperatures.

Ecological conservation and restoration Birds are particularly susceptible to building structures, with an estimated 365 to 988 million birds dying annually in the U.S. due to collisions with buildings. [38] Using the American Bird

Conservancy’s (ABC) Threat Factor Database, [39] buildings can reduce bird fatalities by at least

50% according to estimates. By reducing these daily disruptions, projects enable ecosystems to reestablish their natural patterns, fostering a more resilient and biodiverse habitat.

These credits align with global commitments to conserve and restore at least 30% of the world’s land and seas by 2030, offering LEED projects a meaningful role in advancing this initiative. [40] By integrating these strategies, projects not only protect their ecosystems but also position themselves for long-term resilience and success in an increasingly interconnected world.

38 American Bird Conservancy, “New Study Confirms Building Collisions Kill Over One Billion Birds Annually in U.S. - American Bird Conservancy,” August 7, 2024, abcbirds.org/news/bird-building-collisions-study-2024/. 39 American Bird Conservancy, “Downloadable Resources,” https://abcbirds.org/glass-collisions/resources/. 40 Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” n.d., www.cbd.int/gbf.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Operations and Maintenance, April 2025 Launch Edition 76