Effinature, in-use phase
HVE 8.1: certifying biodiversity, High Ecological Value, over time
Performance does not stop at handover.
HVE 8.1 is the Effinature extension reserved for operations already certified under NCO, EVO or HOR. It proves that ecological performance holds up once the project is delivered and in use, through Recurring Conformity Checks. It is the most demanding level of the Effinature scheme, issued by IRICE, a third-party certification body.
Certification by IRICE
the certification body
ISO/IEC 17065
third-party certification
Assessment and decision
by IRICE, as a third party
Public registry
of certified operations
Cofrac accreditation No. 5-0655 · Certification of products, processes and services · ISO/IEC 17065 · Scope available on www.cofrac.fr. This accreditation covers the EFFINATURE and EFFINATURE HVE certification programmes.
Who it is for
Who is HVE 8.1 for?
HVE 8.1 is aimed at project owners, managers and operators whose operation already holds an active Effinature certificate, obtained under NCO, EVO or HOR. Where the initial certification validates design and delivery, the High Ecological Value extension looks at the life of the site after it is put into service. It concerns landlords, real-estate funds, local authorities and property managers who want to demonstrate, with supporting evidence, that the ecological features they financed keep producing their effects year after year, and not only on the day of handover.
An extension of an existing certification
HVE 8.1 is never obtained on its own: it extends a parent project that is already certified and whose certificate is still valid. The standard takes over at the point where the initial guarantee might otherwise fade, namely during operation. Its purpose is to maintain and prove ecological performance over the long term, by checking that the biodiversity actually installed develops in line with the commitments made. This logic of continuity is what the extension attests: the operation remains, in practice, of High Ecological Value.
Control over time
Recurring Conformity Checks (CCR)
The heart of HVE 8.1 is the Recurring Conformity Checks, or CCR: periodic on-site assessments carried out at defined intervals, replacing a single check with ongoing monitoring. At each visit, the assessor records the real state of the environments, measures any gaps against the certified situation and verifies that any corrective actions have been carried out:
- 1 Monitoring of installed biodiversity. The fauna and flora actually present, the recovery of plantings, the colonisation of habitats and the functionality of ecological continuities are observed, rather than the project's theoretical potential.
- 2 Control of ecological maintenance. The standard verifies that differentiated management, late mowing, the absence of inputs and the durability of the features are genuinely applied on the ground, over time.
What the standard assesses in use
The assessment focuses on the durability of ecological functions: soil health and soil life over time, the resilience of vegetation layers and the diversity of species, upkeep of swales and water-management devices, the maintenance of habitats favourable to ordinary wildlife and the continuity of green-and-blue networks. Differentiated management is examined closely, because a well-designed feature can lose all ecological value if it is maintained like a conventional green space. Each finding rests on field surveys and concrete evidence, never on mere declarations.
Independent assessment
An independent, consistent assessment
As with the initial standards, the Recurring Conformity Checks are carried out by the assessor appointed by IRICE, the certification body. Assessment under the certification body's responsibility ensures a consistent reading of the standard from one check to the next and from one site to another, so that the maintenance of High Ecological Value is comparable and enforceable. A Biodiversity Partner may support you in managing and monitoring your features between two checks, but takes part neither in the assessment nor in the renewal decision.
Why certify
Why prove performance over time?
Regulatory and extra-financial pressure does not stop at delivery: the CSRD directive and ESRS E4 standard, Article 35 of the French Climate and Resilience Act, and the expectations of investors and local authorities now bear on durable results, not just design intentions. HVE 8.1 answers this requirement by turning a one-off commitment into renewed proof. It secures environmental claims across an asset's holding period and sets apart the managers who genuinely keep their promises. Effinature covers the whole process, from the pre-diagnostic through to in-use monitoring, alongside the certification body IRICE.
Choosing your standard
Discover the other standards
HVE 8.1 extends an initial certification. The parent project is certified under one of the standards below.
NCO 8.1
New construction
Housing, offices, mixed-use. 2 phases: design and construction.
Learn more →EVO 8.1
Renovation
Operations on existing buildings.
Learn more →HOR 8.1
Development
Mixed-use zones (ZAC), subdivisions, public spaces, roads.
Learn more →HVE 8.1
High ecological value
Performance does not stop at handover.Performance maintained through recurring conformity checks.
Learn more →The journey
How to obtain the HVE 8.1 extension
The starting point is a certified parent project whose certificate is active. You submit an extension application to IRICE, the certification body. Once the application is deemed admissible, a schedule of Recurring Conformity Checks is set and IRICE carries out the first on-site check. IRICE then decides to grant High Ecological Value, renewed at each due date as long as the findings confirm that performance is maintained, and the operation is listed in the public registry of certified operations.
Registration
Account and SIRENE data, free, in a few minutes.
Application
Operation, Biodiversity Partner, target standard.
Review and contract
IRICE reviews admissibility, the contract is signed online.
Certification
An assessor is appointed, IRICE decides, the certificate is listed in the public registry.
2 to 4 months between the application and the decision, as a guide.
Go further
Download the HVE 8.1 standard for free, or submit your extension request.
Ready to prove the ecological performance of your operations over time?
Create your account and submit your certification request, or explore the standards suited to your operations first.
Training on this standard.
The training course "Biodiversity Partner, Operation" covers the High Ecological Value addendum, the control protocol and post-handover monitoring indicators.
7 hours · Biodiversity Partner qualification required