Badgers are one of the UK’s most recognisable and legally protected mammal species. Their ecology, social behaviour and use of the landscape present unique challenges for ecological survey, impact assessment and mitigation, particularly in the context of development, infrastructure and land management projects.
The Competency Standard for Badger Survey, Mitigation and Management provides a structured framework for professionals undertaking badger-related work. It sets out the knowledge, skills and experience required to survey, assess, mitigate impacts on, and manage badgers and their habitats to a consistent professional standard.
The framework covers a broad range of badger ecology practices, including knowledge of legislation and licensing, field survey techniques, impact assessment, mitigation design and implementation, habitat management, and reporting. It supports practitioners at all stages of their professional development, from those gaining foundational experience through to specialists leading complex projects and providing expert advice.
By establishing clear competency expectations, the framework helps ensure that badger surveys and mitigation measures are robust, evidence-based, proportionate and legally compliant, while supporting the conservation of badger populations and the successful delivery of projects.
Purpose of the Framework
This competency standard has been developed to:
- Promote high standards of professional practice in badger survey, mitigation and management.
- Support career development and progression for ecological practitioners.
- Provide a benchmark for competency assessment and professional recognition.
- Encourage consistency in survey design, impact assessment, mitigation and reporting.
- Ensure practitioners understand their responsibilities relating to legislation, licensing, health and safety, and biosecurity.
- Support evidence-based decision-making for development, conservation and land management projects.
- Help deliver effective mitigation and management measures that protect badgers and maintain favourable conservation outcomes.
Raising Standards
Understanding what good practice looks like and how to develop your competence in different areas of ecological survey, management and mitigation is fundamental to professional development and progressing your career.
CIEEM has been working with volunteer members to develop taxa-specific competency standards that tell the practitioner what they need to know and what they should be able to do in order to demonstrate increasing levels of competence. These competency standards are derived from the CIEEM Competency Framework and have also drawn on the Ecological Competences: Skills and Process document published by Atkins in 2019.