Biodiversity Metric 3.0 Call for Evidence

Natural England have recently launched Biodiversity Metric 3.0, a tool used to provide a way of measuring and accounting for nature losses and gains resulting from development or changes in land management.

Should the Environment Bill receive Royal Assent this Autumn, the Biodiversity Metric 3.0 will become the industry standard metric for delivering biodiversity net gain (BNG) all on-land and intertidal development in England. It is widely recognized that the metric will evolve through iterative improvements over time as we learn more about its application and the outcomes it can deliver. Inevitably there may initially be some unintended outcomes identified through more widespread use of the metric. If it proves necessary, CIEEM, will produce advice notes for members on what these potential outcomes are, and how they can be addressed to ensure BNG delivers for nature.

To inform this advice note, we would welcome evidence from members of where the metric has resulted in unintended outcomes for habitat types, both positive and negative. Please use the form here to submit your evidence.