Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain: a new era for ecology in the planning system?
The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) has published an article by Verna’s Director of Ecology, Dr Mikael Forup, examining the implications of Biodiversity Net Gain regulations for the planning system.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) becomes mandatory across England in January 2024, and has been heralded internationally as “the most ambitious biodiversity policy in the world”.
BNG brings a new role for ecology in planning. The article looks at what this means for Local Planning Authorities – including the challenges of new risks and burdens, the opportunities to improve nature and generate revenue, and how software can help make BNG a success.
We hope that by working together we can avoid BNG becoming an
Dr Mikael Forup, Verna’s Ecology Director, writing for CIEEM
unmanageable burden and instead make it what it should be: an
opportunity to create long-lasting nature-rich areas, and help deliver wider benefits for our communities and environment.
The article is based on Verna’s extensive research with Local Planning Authorities and across the ecology sector, and includes a case study on how a leading Authority is handling BNG.
It appears in the December issue of CIEEM’s In Practice journal, which is available to CIEEM members (you can sign up for membership on CIEEM’s website here). You can read a copy of Mikael’s article on our website here.
To find out more about how Verna is supporting Local Planning Authorities achieve ecology and nature goals, you can learn about our Mycelia software or see other resources we’ve published for the sector.