Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach to development that aims to leave nature in a measurably better state than before. This is achieved through embedding the mitigation hierarchy into development design through the use of a biodiversity metric, highlighting impacts on, and opportunities for nature.The Planning Advisory Service states:“Under the Environment Act 2021, all planning permissions granted in England (with a few exemptions) will have to deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain from an as yet unconfirmed date, expected to be in November 2023. BNG will be measured using Defra’s biodiversity metric and habitats will need to be secured for at least 30 years. This sits alongside:– a strengthened legal duty for public bodies to conserve and enhance biodiversity,– new biodiversity reporting requirements for local authorities, and– mandatory spatial strategies for nature: Local Nature Recovery Strategies or ‘LNRS’.”This virtual symposium will bring together professionals from a range of sectors to discuss their experience and lessons learned from working with BNG. The event will be hosted by Dan Carpenter (Digital Ecology) and features four speakers:
- Biodiversity Net Gain – A Policy and Metric Update with Dr Nicholas Ian White (Natural England)
- Delivering Biodiversity Net Gain for Infrastructure Projects with Dr Julia Baker CEnv MCIEEM (Mott MacDonald)
- Biodiversity Net Gain: The Wiltshire Council Perspective with Rachel Jones (Wiltshire Council)
- The Wildlife Trusts Habitat Banking Investment with Martin Varley (Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust).
The cost of attending this Biodiversity Net Gain Virtual Symposium 2023 is £25.More information and tickets are available via Eventbrite.