WWT sets out what is needed to effectively implement biodiversity net gain

WWT sets out what is needed to effectively implement biodiversity net gain - Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

The UK Government has today released a consultation on regulations needed to ensure all new developments achieve a 10% net gain in biodiversity, as set out in the Environment Act 2021. These regulations will determine how increases in biodiversity will be measured, how and where habitat can be created, and how biodiversity net gain will be enforced.

WWT strongly welcomes this requirement for all developments to contribute to the restoration of nature through biodiversity net gain standards because this has the potential to provide habitat for wildlife while integrating high-quality blue space into communities.

Biodiversity net gain standards also have the potential to channel large amounts of private finance from developers towards the restoration and creation of wetlands, especially in urban areas, helping achieve WWT’s ambition of 100,000 hectares of new and restored wetlands across the UK. For this to happen, however, the regulations must ensure that existing rare habitats are preserved, high-quality habitat is created and that this is preserved through effective enforcement.

How can these new biodiversity regulations be effective and help wetlands?

To be effective and help achieve a Blue Recovery through the restoration and creation of wetlands, the regulations and the metric for measuring net gain should achieve the following:

They need to make clear that achieving a net gain in biodiversity does not remove the requirement to follow the mitigation hierarchy with respect to areas of habitat planned for development. This means avoiding harm to biodiversity wherever possible, minimising impacts where this is not possible, and finally compensating for harm where avoidance and minimisation are not possible. The emphasis on this in the consultation is welcome and should be reinforced in the regulations.
They must prioritise habitat creation and restoration on-site, and where this is not possible habitat creation or restoration as close to the site as possible. This is to ensure important locations for species are not lost and natural spaces that provide a vital health and wellbeing resource to local communities are not destroyed without providing alternative spaces for people to access nature. The consultation makes clear that on-site habitat restoration and creation should be given priority.