Tucker Environmental’s Post

Biodiversity net gain #BNG update: 🌱 The government has issued two new documents relating to BNG: - how to appeal the refusal or non-determination of a biodiversity gain plan (the plan you submit after getting planning permission but before you can start the development, which sets out where you are getting the replacement biodiversity units from) - https://bit.ly/4c6QkM0 - guidance on completing the form - https://bit.ly/3A32hVU The first document is pretty short and factual, the second one is more detailed. I guess we are reaching the stage where such appeals are more likely.

New research suggests that 'biodiversity mainstreaming' has until now been largely ineffective due to non-binding commitments, vaguely formulated targets, “add-on” biodiversity initiatives, and too few resources. Conflicting targets between sectors and unclear responsibilities are also holding back success. The research, led by Prof. Hens Runhaar, suggests that a combination of regulatory measures (“sticks”) and incentives (“carrots”) may be more effective than voluntary approaches alone, say the authors. Legal requirements for biodiversity action, along with showcasing the benefits of biodiversity to different sectors, could encourage greater commitment to mainstreaming. The study published in the journal Earth System Governance was co-authored by Fabian Pröbstl, Felician Heim, Elsa Maria Cardona Santos, Joachim Claudet, Lyda D., Guilherme de Queiroz Stein, Agnes Z. & Yves Zinngrebe. Read more 👇

Just published - NAO report on Biodiversity Net Gain. Conclusion: "For its market-led approach to work, Defra needs the market to scale up to meet demand, and for statutory biodiversity credits to deliver biodiversity when the market fails to do so". What do LinkedIn members think? Will the strategy succeed? https://lnkd.in/eWKZYNPq

Robin Barnes - Biodiversity Net Gain for new development - implications Last month my planning colleague, John Bosworth, published an article outlining which biodiversity net gain (BNG) policies have so far come into force. This summarised how the requirement to provide a minimum of a 10% biodiversity gain must be realised by way of on-site measures, off-site measures or purchasing statutory biodiversity credits from the Government, as well as the categories of exempt development. Here we look at what the developer must do to satisfy the policies that have come into force thus far... #commercialrealestate #commercialproperty #development #biodiversitynetgain #biodiversity https://lnkd.in/eqmgQNJb

Thank you for joining us in launching our Biodiversity Impact Assessment Framework (BIAF) - Beta version yesterday! For those who couldn't make it, stay tuned for the recording of the webinar which will be made available publicly soon. It was truly inspiring to see such enthusiasm in transforming how we invest and develop positive projects for nature by bringing clarity to identifying both positive and negative impacts pathways, and estimating the net benefit for biodiversity. BIAF is a framework method based on the biodiversity extent, condition, and significance approach offering full flexibility for estimating benefits to biodiversity from various business models and scales. You can use various metrics with BIAF depending on what projects/investments you are dealing with and of course, availability and quality of data you have at hand. As it is based on the ExC approach, BIAF aligns well with disclosure metrics recommended by the TNFD and other emerging frameworks as well. We welcome further feedback and comments to our framework method. So please do get in touch if you are intrigued or better yet, if you are keen to test BIAF on your investments or projects or get involved in our next iteration of the method. You can access the full methodology report here: https://lnkd.in/gitDj8Hq

🌿 Biodiversity Credit Alliance (BCA) released the second issue paper on "Review Mechanisms for Supply-side Quality and Integrity in the Biodiversity Credit Market": https://lnkd.in/dnSHmaKr Manesh Lacoul, Global Coordinator, Biodiversity Credit Alliance, shares his insights: "BCA is about to publish its second issue paper, which delineates the process of developing an independent review mechanism for the emerging biodiversity credit market. BCA work streams are initiated to address the need for equity, quality and integrity early on in the development of the biodiversity credit market to help lay a foundation for its long-term sustainability and success.    Only with strong foundations will the market contribute effectively to global biodiversity conservation goals while upholding ethical standards and promoting social equity as outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.   BCA is aligning its efforts to provide ongoing guidance in the direction illustrated in this paper, mobilizing partners and engaging in a broad stakeholder consultation process to establish this key component of the market governance framework.   BCA is also currently in its final preparations for the release of its third issue paper “Definition of a Biodiversity Credit”. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dx_rniZA #biodiversity #biodiversitycredits #BCA #supply #integrity

Is commoditization the way forward for biodiversity? Can markets deliver nature positive outcomes? - Pollination Foundation released the report, "State of Voluntary Biodiversity Credit Markets", which shows that there has been increasing interest in these markets and their potential to contribute to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. - This report provides the first comprehensive estimate of the value of voluntary biodiversity credit markets globally, as well as insights into the drivers of demand. Key highlights: - Between approximately US$325,000 and US$1,870,000 worth of credits are estimated to have been sold to date. - The majority of credits that have been sold at US$25 per credit or less. - Between approximately 26,000 and 125,000 hectares of positive biodiversity outcomes/activities have been directly financed by the sale of biodiversity credits to date. - All schemes either currently require independent third-party verification of outcomes or intend to in the future.  - In places where Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs) have a continuous connection and/or legal interest in the area of credit generation, 75% of schemes involve IPs and LCs to some extent. Well done lead authors Laura Waterford, Veda FitzSimons, Olivia Back. Full report attached.

Rules around biodiversity net gain were launched with risks to its long-term effectiveness. https://lnkd.in/ecAbUA8P These rules are known as statutory biodiversity net gain. They were introduced by the government in February to require developers to enhance land they are building on. Here’s what our report found: RSPB as part of the State of Nature Partnership found that the UK had seen an average 32% decline in species' abundance between 1970 and 2021. Statutory biodiversity net gain was intended to contribute to halting this decline. It requires developers to improve the habitats they harm by a net 10%, ideally on-site. When on-site gains are not enough to meet the 10% requirement, off-site gains can be created by the developer elsewhere or purchased through a new private market for biodiversity units. But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) does not intend to monitor how well these on- and off-site biodiversity gains are being enforced by local authorities. Given the existing discretionary nature to their enforcement, we feel there are risks to effective enforcement and compliance. We also highlight that where on- and off-site markets do not enable developers to meet the 10% requirement, Defra will step in as a provider of last resort, to offer credits for land intended for development. Despite this money being ring-fenced, presently, no legally compliant mechanism exists yet to spend income from statutory credit sales to enhance biodiversity. We recommend that government establishes a mechanism for spending income from the sales of statutory biodiversity credits in a timely way. Local authorities should also have sufficient and timely funding certainty to allow for longer-term planning regarding their role in enforcing the scheme. Read our report: https://lnkd.in/ecAbUA8P

Development-led Biodiversity Net Gain #BNG (part 6) There was really great and useful engagement with my BNG (part 5) post, which has led me to the following further conclusion/recommendation of how LPAs should be straightforwardly dealing with BNG. It is clear that the government doesn't expect LPAs to include the deemed BNG Condition on Planning Approval Decision Notices (1) - however it is also clear that LPAs need to include an "informative" that covers the BNG Condition (2) and provides suggested wording for various situations (if you follow the link (3) ). (1) Paragraph: 024 Reference ID: 74-024-20240214 (2) Paragraph: 025 Reference ID: 74-025-20240214 I therefore expect that very soon we should see lots of Planning Approval Decision Notices saying this: "The effect of paragraph 13 of Schedule 7A to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is that planning permission granted for the development of land in England is deemed to have been granted subject to the condition “(the biodiversity gain condition”) that development may not begin unless: (a) a Biodiversity Gain Plan has been submitted to the planning authority, and (b) the planning authority has approved the plan. The planning authority, for the purposes of determining whether to approve a Biodiversity Gain Plan if one is required in respect of this permission would be [insert name of the planning authority]. There are statutory exemptions and transitional arrangements which mean that the biodiversity gain condition does not always apply. These are listed below. Based on the information available this permission is considered to be one which will require the approval of a biodiversity gain plan before development is begun because none of the statutory exemptions or transitional arrangements listed below are considered to apply." Has anyone seen this yet? (3) https://lnkd.in/e2Q_-jBk

The Biodiversity Consultancy and WWF Switzerland unveiled the report ‘Articulating and Assessing Biodiversity Impact: A Framework to Support Investment Decisions’ on April 23, 2024. The report introduces the Biodiversity Impact Assessment Framework (BIAF), a framework method that enables investors and businesses to assess and estimate the biodiversity impacts of their investments or projects quantitatively. Developed by the experts at The Biodiversity Consultancy with WWF Switzerland’s support BIAF offers a clear, comparable way to measure positive impacts on biodiversity.   Visit our website to find out more about BIAF.   #Biodiversity #ImpactInvestment #Nature #ImpactAssessment https://lnkd.in/e2ycfpnP