Tackling the twin biodiversity and climate crises: BNG & Nature Recovery

Nature is disappearing at an alarming rate.

The latest State of Nature Report, the most comprehensive report on UK wildlife, shows that species have declined by 19% since 1970, with one in six species at risk of being lost. 

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a legal requirement that seeks to enhance nature’s recovery through the planning system. It requires new developments to deliver a minimum 10% increase in biodiversity value, secured for at least 30 years, on or around development sites.

As a tool, BNG can facilitate the creation, enhancement and connectivity of habitats; this is crucial to mitigate against and adapt to the interconnected and mutually reinforcing challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, whilst also increasing natural capital. This article highlights three key opportunities that BNG presents: invasive non-native species, habitat creation in a changing climate and human-nature interactions. However, it also recognises that as a society we need to move faster towards ecological balance, highlighting some of the ongoing areas that require further consideration within these three key areas. It does not seek to provide answers, but instead encourages both CIWEM and CIEEM professionals to continue to work together for both people and nature. 

A catchment based approach to invasive non-native species

BNG facilitates the creation and enhancement of habitats, which often involves the management and/or eradication of invasive non-native species (INNS). This provides us with an opportunity to address one of the top five drivers of biodiversity loss, by controlling unwanted species across landscapes, supporting native species to thrive and contributing to the delivery of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS).

However, with climate change creating conditions that often favour the establishment and spread of new and existing INNS, the progress made through BNG may be undermined. Whilst 30-year management plans will go some way to treating and controlling the spread of INNS, to be truly impactful, a catchment-scale approach is needed. There are challenges with this, including land ownership, funding and seasonality. This therefore remains an area where CIWEM and CIEEM colleagues can continue to collaborate and innovate, to better facilitate catchment-based approaches for the management of INNS.

Habitat creation in a changing climate

In addition to more direct benefits for biodiversity, BNG policy allows us to finance investment into climate resilience at a national scale. For example, river restoration (required in order to create watercourse habitat units within the BNG metric) can provide increased resilience to flooding events through slowing water flow rates through in-channel works like remeandering and restoration of wetland habitats within the wider riparian zone. In addition to this, the provision of additional waterbodies such as ponds and scrapes can offset climate impacts through increasing water retention and soil moisture during droughts. This can result in habitats that can both resist and mitigate climate impacts.

In addition to prioritising habitats that provide climate resilience, it is crucial that habitats maintain target condition (the agreed upon condition of a created or retained habitat to ensure sufficient net gains from a development) under the effects of climate change. Climate projection data can be used to inform climate resilient habitat creation, allowing adaptability to climate risks. This enables scheme designers and local authorities to incorporate resilience measures such as seed mixes, habitat types, habitat mosaics with ecotones and management plans that will allow for the best outcomes for biodiversity.

With sufficient consideration at the planning and design phase, there are a plethora of opportunities provided by BNG policies that can result in the creation of climate resilient habitats as well as habitats that can mitigate climate impacts themselves. The approach provides both benefits for biodiversity and society more broadly.

Human-nature interaction

The interaction between the needs of communities and BNG requirements is an important consideration in the process – both to create viable and safe greenspaces for communities and also to ensure that target habitat conditions can be met and maintained under urban pressures. 

The development of Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) can support this, providing guidance on priority species and habitats in local areas. However, the way in which communities interact with these spaces must also be a consideration. Where habitat creation is proposed within recreational greenspaces, challenges can arise, which can result in damage and degradation of habitats. Measures such as fencing, designated paths and signage can be valuable tools to ensure habitats thrive in public amenity areas without impacting its condition, in addition to fostering a sense of community pride in green spaces. 

Conversely, in urban areas habitat design must consider safety, visual appeal and maintenance costs, to ensure spaces remain desirable, safe and functional. For example, creation of scrub or hedgerow using thorny plants in areas with high foot traffic or children’s play areas nearby, or planting fruit bearing trees along footpaths can result in safety hazards for the public. Careful planning and management is required to avoid negative impacts, such as locating habitats appropriately and considering context and current use when designing planting schemes.  

When human-nature interaction is considered, habitat created through BNG provides both social and environmental benefits through establishment of functional and safe greenspaces that provide benefits for nature.

Summary

To summarise, BNG presents a significant opportunity to reverse nature’s decline by embedding ecological enhancement into the heart of development. From creating climate-resilient habitats and designing functional greenspaces that support human wellbeing, to addressing the growing threat of invasive non-native species at a landscape scale, BNG offers a framework that can deliver long-term benefits for both society and the environment. However, realising its full potential will require continued collaboration, innovation, and adaptive management, particularly in the face of climate change and urban pressures. 

As professionals working at the intersection of environment and society, CIWEM and CIEEM members have a critical role to play in shaping how BNG evolves and is delivered in practice.  By working together, we can help ensure that development becomes a force for nature’s recovery and climate resilience, both now and for future generations.

About the Authors

Esther Taylor, Biodiversity Strategy Manager, United Utilities. With a BA in Geography and an Msc in Sustainable Development, Esther is passionate about the environment and ensuring the way we live interacts with the natural world in a sustainable way.  In her current role as Biodiversity Strategy Manager for United Utilities, the water and wastewater company, she is responsible for driving the business approach to the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity on business owned land and wider across the North West. She leads in the development of targets, strategies and plans for a variety of projects areas including Biodiversity Net Gain, protected sites and Invasive Non-Native Species. When not working she enjoys getting out and about as much as possible, making the most of the beautiful landscapes near her home in the North West. 

Katie Pearson, BSc (Hons) MSc. Katie Pearson is an Ecologist at Sunderland City Council, where she provides ecological advice and consultation on primarily planning applications, at times assisting with nature restoration works and biodiversity net gain processes. As a qualifying member of CIEEM, she is also a member of the Freshwater Special Interest Group (SIG), with a particular interest in and passion for freshwater and riverine mammals and their habitats.