Breaking Down the Biodiversity Metric, By Senior Ecologist, Luc Hanse-Foster
In the UK, our forward-thinking approach to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is leading the rest of the world, and the Biodiversity Metric serves as an essential tool in the standardisation of BNG calculations.
The Environment Act 2021 and the Biodiversity Metric have undergone several transformations over the last few years, and it’s highly likely that another update will soon be released. However, at the time of writing, this metric can accurately quantify the level of biodiversity that exists on a site, both pre and post development. In this way, the impact of a proposed project can be established, and the right level of BNG incorporated.
The planning process can be broken down into five key phases:
Complete an initial site survey
Input the collected data into the Biodiversity Metric and attribute a numerical value to the untouched site
Input the development plans into the Biodiversity Metric and attribute a numerical value to the post-development site
Compare these two figures to accurately assess the impact of the proposed plans
Working with key stakeholders, develop new plans which re-incorporate the required level of BNG into the project in a non-invasive manner
To use the Biodiversity Metric to its full potential, forward planning is essential. Working with an ecologist at the earliest opportunity facilitates strong communication between all key stakeholders, and efficient, cost-effective planning.
Having a solid understanding of these new regulations is more important than ever. If you’d like to learn about the changes shaping the UK’s development sector, our CPD training sessions could provide the perfect solution.
To find out more, feel free to call us at 0191 303 7805, or email us at enquiries@biodiverseconsulting.co.uk.