What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
An Introduction to Biodiversity Net Gain 
What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of species, habitats and ecosystems in particular area or region.
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a new approach to planning and land management that aims to leave the natural environment in a better state than before development occurred
Why is BNG Important?
The UK has witnessed significant declines in its biodiversity over the last century as a result of development deteriorating and fragmenting established ecosystems.
In November 2021, the Environment Act laid out statutory targets for the recovery of the natural environment in four priority areas: air quality, biodiversity, water and waste, with an overarching target to halt species decline by the end of 2030.
Specifically, in response to ‘biodiversity’, the Act paved the way for a new legal requirement that development must achieve a minimum 10% net increase in biodiversity, to be maintained for a minimum period of 30 years, so as to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was before development occurred.
More information on the state of nature in the UK can be found in the annual State of Nature report.
