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GRI 304: Biodiversity·Disclosure GRI 304-1
Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas
Practical guidance for preparing this disclosure. Use this card to identify the information to prepare, verify claims and organise supporting evidence. For exact requirements, always refer to the official Global Reporting Initiative source.
Legal status
GRI 304: Biodiversity 2016 has been superseded by GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024 for reports and other materials published on or after 1 January 2026. This page is retained only to support the review of reporting published before that date and must not be used to prepare current GRI reporting.
Published passport
Last reviewed 2026-08-03
Reviewed by
Dr Ross KurinkoLinkedIn
Strategic ESG Advisor · IFRS S1 & S2 / GRI / ESRS expert
GRI Certified Global Trainer · PhD, University of Cambridge · ESG-AI expert
15+ years on FTSE 100 & Fortune Global 500 disclosures
Canary Wharf, London
LRA educational guidance · Not issued or endorsed by Global Reporting Initiative
Standard
GRI 304: Biodiversity
Disclosure GRI 304-1 · 2016
Last reviewed
2026-08-03
LRA educational guidance · Not issued or endorsed by Global Reporting Initiative
To prepare this disclosure
Disclosure focus
Disclosure 304-1 required an organization to report information for each operational site owned, leased or managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas. For each applicable site, the organization was required to report its geographic location; any subsurface or underground land owned, leased or managed; its position in relation to the relevant area; the type of operation; the site’s size in square kilometres or another appropriate unit; the biodiversity value by ecosystem type; and the biodiversity value by protected-status listing.
The Guidance also recommended including sites for which future operations had been formally announced.
This LRA educational guidance supports disclosure preparation. For the exact requirements, always refer to the official Global Reporting Initiative source.
Before you start
Before you start
A quick mental checklist before you prepare this disclosure — tick each as you settle it.
Preparation
Key information to prepare
| Preparation field | What to capture | Evidence hint | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicable operational site | Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting applicable operational site. | Biodiversity / Operations / Sustainability Reporting |
| Geographic location | Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting geographic location. | Biodiversity / Operations / Sustainability Reporting |
| Subsurface or underground land | Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting subsurface or underground land. | Biodiversity / Operations / Sustainability Reporting |
| Position in relation to the biodiversity area | Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting position in relation to the biodiversity area. | Biodiversity / Operations / Sustainability Reporting |
| Type of operation | Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting type of operation. | Biodiversity / Operations / Sustainability Reporting |
| Site size | Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting site size. | Biodiversity / Operations / Sustainability Reporting |
| Biodiversity value by ecosystem type | Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting biodiversity value by ecosystem type. | Biodiversity / Operations / Sustainability Reporting |
| Biodiversity value by protected-status listing | Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting biodiversity value by protected-status listing. | Biodiversity / Operations / Sustainability Reporting |
＋ Show GRI 304-1 sub-elements (LRA working checklist)
Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus.
Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus.
Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus.
Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus.
Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus.
Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus.
Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus.
Prepare and reconcile this field using the definitions and scope in the reviewed Disclosure focus.
How to prepare it
Disclosure 304-1 required an organization to report information for each operational site owned, leased or managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas. For each applicable site, the organization was required to report its geographic location; any subsurface or underground land owned, leased or managed; its position in relation to the relevant area; the type of operation; the site’s size in square kilometres or another appropriate unit; the biodiversity value by ecosystem type; and the biodiversity value by protected-status listing.
Collect and reconcile the records for: Applicable operational site; Geographic location; Subsurface or underground land; Position in relation to the biodiversity area; Type of operation; Site size; Biodiversity value by ecosystem type; Biodiversity value by protected-status listing.
Apply Disclosure 304-1 when the related topic is material and the disclosure is applicable under the relevant GRI Standard.
Draft the response using the defined terms shown in the disclosure focus; do not substitute broader internal labels.
Review the final wording against every requirement and the supporting governance or data records before sign-off.
Request the data
Request the disclosure evidence
Translate the disclosure into an internal business question — then adapt it to your organisation's own language.
Provide the reporting-period records and reconciliations for Disclosure 304-1: Applicable operational site; Geographic location; Subsurface or underground land; Position in relation to the biodiversity area; Type of operation; Site size; Biodiversity value by ecosystem type; Biodiversity value by protected-status listing. Include scope, definitions, methods, assumptions, limitations, owners and approvals.
Use the organisation's own role and document names, but preserve the defined GRI terms and the scope described above.
Better request
Provide the reporting-period records and reconciliations for Disclosure 304-1: Applicable operational site; Geographic location; Subsurface or underground land; Position in relation to the biodiversity area; Type of operation; Site size; Biodiversity value by ecosystem type; Biodiversity value by protected-status listing. Include scope, definitions, methods, assumptions, limitations, owners and approvals.
Draft your disclosure
Notes that turn data into a disclosure
LRA training templates — adapt them to your organisation, and check the official source before sign-off.
Method note
The Guidance also recommended including sites for which future operations had been formally announced.
Context note
Keep mandatory GRI Requirements, GRI recommendations and additional LRA preparation controls clearly distinguished. Apply a GRI 1 reason for omission where required information cannot be reported.
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Preparation tools & forms
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Assurance readiness
For each claim, check the evidence
| Claim | Risk | Evidence to check |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable operational site is reported accurately and completely. | The response omits, misclassifies or overstates applicable operational site. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting applicable operational site. |
| Geographic location is reported accurately and completely. | The response omits, misclassifies or overstates geographic location. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting geographic location. |
| Subsurface or underground land is reported accurately and completely. | The response omits, misclassifies or overstates subsurface or underground land. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting subsurface or underground land. |
| Position in relation to the biodiversity area is reported accurately and completely. | The response omits, misclassifies or overstates position in relation to the biodiversity area. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting position in relation to the biodiversity area. |
| Type of operation is reported accurately and completely. | The response omits, misclassifies or overstates type of operation. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting type of operation. |
| Site size is reported accurately and completely. | The response omits, misclassifies or overstates site size. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting site size. |
| Biodiversity value by ecosystem type is reported accurately and completely. | The response omits, misclassifies or overstates biodiversity value by ecosystem type. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting biodiversity value by ecosystem type. |
| Biodiversity value by protected-status listing is reported accurately and completely. | The response omits, misclassifies or overstates biodiversity value by protected-status listing. | Approved source records, calculation files and review evidence supporting biodiversity value by protected-status listing. |
Evidence pack to prepare
Common reporting gaps
Using internal or approximate wording in place of the defined GRI terms.
Changing the required reporting population or denominator without explanation.
Treating GRI recommendations or LRA preparation controls as mandatory disclosure requirements.
Leaving a reported field unsupported by traceable source evidence and review records.
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Framework references
Relevant GRI requirements and related disclosures
Available framework references and nearby disclosures relevant to preparing this requirement.
GRI
GRI 304-1
within GRI 304: Biodiversity
Related & explore
Significant impacts of activities, products and services on biodiversity → CardHabitats protected or restored → CardIUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations → Card
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