05 Dec 2023

Defra has published a suite of guidance to support the (delayed) introduction of biodiversity net gain (BNG) becoming mandatory. They include: The statutory biodiversity metric tool and user guide The tool allows the calculation of biodiversity value for the purpose of BNG for major developments.  The user guide has the information needed to use the statutory biodiversity […]

01 Nov 2023

Defra has published draft versions of the biodiversity gain plan template and guidance documents for developers and for local planning authorities. These will aid preparation for the commencement of BNG, which is now due to start from January 2024.

01 Nov 2023

From Make Water Famous A study in England has found that freshwater macro-invertebrate richness has increased over the past 30 years, indicating a positive trend in biodiversity. Aquatic macro-invertebrates are insects in their nymph and larval stages, that spend at least part of their lives in water. They play a large role in freshwater ecosystems […]

05 Oct 2023

The Westminster government has announced that the introduction of mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) in England has been delayed from November until January for larger sites developed through the town and country planning system, and April 2024 for small sites. BNG will not be mandatory for national infrastructure projects until 2025. The delay has not […]

05 Oct 2023

The State of Nature 2023 report shows that wildlife decline continues at an alarming rate in the UK. The report collates data from wildlife and reporting schemes to paint a comprehensive picture of biodiversity loss. The report finds a 19% average decline in UK species and one in six species at risk of extinction. The […]

26 Sep 2023

Reported in the Guardian, pollution from treated and untreated sewage is the greatest threat to river biodiversity, causing more damage than runoff from farms, according to research. There is a need for more regulation of water companies and improvements at their treatment plans to protect rivers, say the authors of the study. The research from […]

20 Sep 2023

This week saw the publication of the long-awaited Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) recommendations and guidance. Following from the success of the TCFD, which has helped expand and standardise the disclosure of climate risks around the world, the TNFD can empower organisations to understand their impacts and dependencies on nature. According to the TNFD: The […]

20 Sep 2023

Business for Nature, the World Economic Forum and World Business Council for Sustainable Development have developed new guidance for a nature-positive future across 12 sectors. An overview of the key impacts, dependencies and priority actions for each sector is available, supporting business to identify and implement relevant, impactful actions for nature. One of the sectors is Water utilities and […]