Biodiversity Net Gain results from a series of planned, scientifically measured and implemented actions resulting in the net improvement to biodiversity for a defined area of land following human-induced impact, such as land-use-change, which has caused change to the type or condition of a habitat.
The widespread loss of natural habitats and biodiversity has focussed government and planning authorities to confront these issues by ensuring that in addition to meeting government societal policy objectives, local planning authorities must be cognisant of their responsibilities to the natural environment when granting planning permission for land-use-change.
The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) promotes Biodiversity Net Gain as an approach to development that leaves biodiversity in a better state than before. Where a development has an impact on biodiversity it encourages developers to provide an increase in appropriate natural habitat and ecological features over and above that being affected in such a way it is hoped that the current loss of biodiversity through development will be halted and ecological networks can be restored.
Veon is a CIEEM Registered Practice and works alongside local planning authorities, utility providers, housing developers and other organisations to help deliver Biodiversity Net Gain in new developments and achieve positive biodiversity outcomes.
In essence, Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment compares the baseline conditions of the proposed development to those post-development, assessing whether a Biodiversity Net Gain has been achieved across many metrics.
There are many metrics which have been developed for calculating Biodiversity Net Gain and Veon is currently working to develop a Metric specifically for Ireland, however until this has been completed, Veon uses the Natural England Biodiversity Matrix 3.1 (or The Small Sites Metric, where applicable).
Veon’s BNG expertise and experience
Veon ecologists undertake Biodiversity Net Gain assignments utilising our experience with different metrics to ensure that pragmatic solutions are developed for our clients.
Our in-house Geospatial experts are always on hand to provide accurate results from the baseline survey and post-development plans.
Our team is equipped with the latest survey-grade GPS receivers with accuracy showing Horizontal Error of down to 20 centimetres.
Biodiversity Net Gain still relies on the application of the mitigation hierarchy to avoid, mitigate or compensate for biodiversity losses. It is additional to these approaches, not instead of them. Put simply, it involves the use of a metric as a proxy for recognising the negative impacts on habitats arising from a development and calculating how much new or restored habitat, and of what types is required to deliver sufficient net gain.
Biodiversity mitigation and restoration should always be secondary to avoiding and minimising impact and this is achieved by greater care and attention to the metrics at the design stage of the development which reduces the requirement for offsite mitigation measures.
As greater understanding and awareness of the principles of Biodiversity Net Gain and Environmental Net Gain develops, it is likely that Irish legislators and planning authorities will move to make these principles an integral part of planning consent in the future.
Contact us today to discuss your Biodiversity Net Gain requirements [email protected]
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