Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
An Introduction to the Legislation and Biodiversity Units Calculations
Table of Contents
1. What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is designed to rebalance any impacts on biodiversity; this is done by taking measures to minimise impacts and undertaking restoration or offsetting residual impacts to achieve an overall gain of biodiversity. This requires a standardised quantification of biodiversity to enable post impact (losses) and offset (gains) to be estimated with the goal that gains should surpass the losses. This section breaks down the theory behind BNG,
All new major developments must deliver a minimum of 10% BNG, and will be required for Development Consent Orders from November 2025. Undertaking the BNG process involves baseline biodiversity assessments, habitat creation or enhancement, and long-term monitoring.
“BNG is an approach to development. It makes sure that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development”.
Net Gain Compared to What?
3. How are Biodiversity Units Calculated?
4. Post-development Calculations
Post-development calculations play a crucial role in achieving Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) by assessing how proposed enhancements, restorations, or habitat creations will contribute to the overall biodiversity value of a site. This step involves applying specific multipliers to ensure accurate and realistic projections of biodiversity gains over time.
5. How GIS supports BNG
GIS is instrumental in calculating biodiversity units by integrating data on habitat condition, distinctiveness, and other spatial attributes. By combining habitat maps with these metrics, GIS enables precise evaluations of baseline biodiversity and models potential net gains. This section explores the key data layers and GIS workflows that support these analyses.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessments involve managing large amounts of ecological data, from baseline collation to long-term monitoring. Without efficient tools, this data can overwhelm users, making it less effective in guiding decision-making. At Ecospatial, we develop innovative and user-friendly tools using ESRI technologies to streamline the BNG process, enabling non-GIS experts to explore and interrogate data effectively.
6. Challenges and Data Standards
Effective BNG implementation requires high-quality data, yet common challenges include:
- Inconsistent Formats: Lack of standardization across datasets.
- Outdated Information: Use of old or irrelevant data can skew assessments.
- Missing Metadata: Without clear documentation, data cannot be confidently used for planning.
At EcoSpatial we developed the FRIDAS checklist to address these challenges and to improve the quality and consistency of GIS data submissions for BNG assessments.
7. Contact us for more info
Adopting robust data standards and leveraging GIS tools can transform how we approach BNG. By ensuring that data is fit for purpose, we can create more sustainable, impactful development projects.
Get Involved:
- Contact us to learn more about the FRIDAS checklist and use it in your projects.
- Request early access to our whitepaper to explore additional resources on GIS and BNG.
- Share your feedback and suggestions to improve these tools and methodologies.
For more information please contact: info@ecospatial.co.uk
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