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With environmental issues more prominent in development and land use, biodiversity net gain or BNG has become essential for maintaining ecosystems. BNG seeks to guarantee that development projects improve biological diversity. This blog will discuss how to calculate BNG, when this will become mandatory, and the tools used in the process.
When Will Biodiversity Net Gain Be Mandatory?
In the UK, biodiversity net gain is expected to become an obligatory measure for new construction projects. The Environment Act 2021 set out that developers would have to deliver at least a 10 per cent net gain in biodiversity. This mandate is expected to come into effect in 2025. The aim is to make developments sustainable within the ecosystem and the local biodiversity, in line with the general environmental objectives and sustainability objectives.
How is Biodiversity Net Gain Measured?
Biodiversity net gain is the measurement of the existing environment, the anticipated effects of development, and the value of any compensation or improvement measures. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to measure biodiversity net gain effectively in the UK.
Baseline Assessment
Survey to determine the current status of the habitat and the species available at the site. This also involves assessing the quality of habitats and species identification. Assess the site’s ecological significance using standard procedures. This includes evaluating factors like the type of habitat, species density, and the roles the species play in the ecosystem.
Impact Assessment
Consult with biologists in the UK who will calculate the approximate effects of the development on the species. This encompasses assessing the project's impacts on habitats, species and ecological processes. Estimate the expected losses in biodiversity using tools such as biodiversity calculators or impact assessment frameworks.
Mitigation and Enhancement Measures
Measures should be adopted to help reduce the development's detrimental effects. These may include activities such as habitat restoration, species translocation, or other forms of conservation. Looking for ways to improve biodiversity beyond the mitigation measures is important. These could involve habitat restoration, enhancing connectivity, or enhancing ecological stewardship practices.
Post-Development Monitoring
Set monitoring standards to evaluate the success of mitigation and enhancement measures. This includes periodic monitoring and evaluation to check on the status of the set goals regarding biodiversity conservation.
The monitoring data should be used to modify the management strategies as necessary. This allows for recognising and managing any other external effects associated with biodiversity improvements.
Advantages of Measuring BNG Effectiveness
- Compliance with mandatory BNG requirements is important to guarantee that development projects respect the legal and environmental norms.
- Measurement is useful in enhancing the effectiveness of interventions to increase biodiversity and, hence, the health of ecosystems.
- Precise measurement of BNG is significant for better planning and management and helps develop a sustainable development approach.
- This is important because proving a commitment to achieving positive net gain for biodiversity is key to gaining trust from stakeholders and the public in projects.
Conclusion
Ensuring that development projects favourably impact the environment depends on accurately measuring biodiversity net gain (BNG). Developers can significantly increase biodiversity by knowing the criteria for BNG, using strong measuring techniques, and using sensible mitigating and enhancing plans.
Adopting these behaviours will be essential for compliance and for developing a more sustainable relationship with our natural environment as BNG becomes mandatory in the next years. To get professional help in Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment, you can contact us at Gradewell Group, where we are available to assist you in every step.
