Ruth Gerrard

As #COP30 ends its first week, The Wildlife Trusts urge the need for climate adaptation to protect UK wildlife 🌍 Our latest adaptation report ‘Resilient Nature’ by Director of Climate and Evidence, Kathryn Brown and Climate Change Manager Eleanor Johnston lays out how protecting and restoring nature can tackle both climate change and wildlife loss. The report emphasises the Trusts' efforts to build resilience, drive policy and advocacy, and use nature-based solutions to help wildlife and communities adapt. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ek-avapF #COP30

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Biodiversity is essential for a healthy planet - and to protect it, we need to understand how nature is changing 🌍 💚 In our latest blog, Solene Marion from the Ecosystems Analysis Team reflects on new findings about how local and national biodiversity monitoring work together. The UK benefits from an incredible wealth of biodiversity data and robust national indicators - but sometimes the big picture isn’t enough. Local, place‑based monitoring can provide the early warning signals and rapid insight needed to respond effectively to environmental change. Find out how combining the strengths of local and national monitoring can help support nature recovery. 🌿 Read the blog https://lnkd.in/gizGGrQb #Biodiversity #Monitoring #EnvironmentalChange #Data #TurningScienceIntoAction #ForNaturePeoplePlanet

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Draft NPPF dropped - Merry Christmas I'm sure there will be widespread commentary on the NPPF now the draft version has landed. How does it impact nature recovery and Biodiversity?? 🌍 - LNRS get a number of specific shout outs and very interesting (also vindicating!!) to see that they are singled out as 'not precluding allocation' and should be taken into account to integrate with development. I've long advocated for this approach and always advised that they should be seen as opportunities where there are potential conflicts with strat sites 🍀 - Development plans should stay in line with statutory BNG requirements and only in excess for site-specific allocations and fully justified 🪶 - Specific reference to development proposals should incorporate 'integrated' nest boxes unless there are compelling reasons for not using them (hugely glad to see this - such an easy win!) 📋 - Environmental Delivery Plans are singled out and impacts on Habitats Sites (and SSSIs) would be permitted where covered under an EDP What a day - time for a lie down!!

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Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is transforming how we plan and deliver development across England. It is placing nature on a level playing field with homes, transport and other critical infrastructure. But, did you know that behind every BNG unit lies years of preparation, stringent management practices and long-term land stewardship.   For Wates Wildscape, each and every BNG unit represents more than just compliance. It’s a long-term commitment to restore nature, support sustainable development, and contribute to the growing natural capital market, which is unlocking new ways to invest in environmental recovery.   From soil and water restoration to grassland, scrub, and woodland creation, every element of a Wildscape site is designed to deliver lasting ecological benefits.   This is how we’re helping nature recover, one habitat at a time.   #WatesWildscape #WatesDevelopments #BiodiversityNetGain #Sustainability https://lnkd.in/eG2PnGeu

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📢Near €1m fund available to deliver community climate projects ℹ Groups can apply for up to €100,000 to deliver key climate and biodiversity actions. 🌳In the first round of funding, 860,000 was distributed to 27 community groups in helping them to reduce energy bills, cut emissions and enhance biodiversity. Small projects can be funded up to €20,000, medium projects can be funded from €20,000 to €50,000, with large projects funded from €50,000 to €100,000. Examples of projects that can be considered include: 🔋energy efficiency upgrades 🌞solar PV installations 🌱composting 🍃community gardens 🌾green walls 🌳tree planting 🗓Closing date: Oct 28. To apply, visit: https://lnkd.in/euEVqc7f

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❓ Are you interested in learning about the new Scottish Biodiversity Metric that NatureScot is developing? We've added a list of Frequently Asked Questions to our website to answer some of your common questions. We'll be updating the FAQs as we go, with a view to consulting on the draft metric and guidance next year, and making the tool available to use in 2027. 🌱 The Scottish Biodiversity Metric will support the NPF4 requirement for all major, national and EIA developments to show that they will restore and enhance biodiversity. ➡️ https://orlo.uk/ZDZLu

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ERAC has released a draft of the proposed #ACCU Improved Native Forest Management in Multiple-use Public Native Forests (INFM) method for consultation. 📣 Consultation will open 2 January, but you can preview it now. The proposed method would allow projects to earn carbon credits (ACCUs) if they stop or defer timber harvesting in public native forests. Read more in comments. ⬇️

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What do the changes to the Planning Bill, currently making its way through Parliament, mean for nature? We’ve been digging into the details… In March, the UK Government introduced the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to accelerate development and economic growth. But across the conservation sector, along with thousands of supporters, we raised grave concerns about the destruction of current legal nature protections the draft Bill would enable. In July, substantial amendments to the Bill were tabled. Here are our key takeaways: 1) Exclusion of irreplaceable habitats from Environmental Development Plans (EDPs) is a vital step forward. This means places like ancient woodlands or limestone pavement that are impossible to recreate within a reasonable timeframe would not be destroyed. 2) A tougher ‘Overall Improvement Test’ for EDPs is a positive shift. An EDP would only proceed if the best available science shows the measures will “materially outweigh the negative effects” of the developments included within it, and result in nature being in a better state by the end than when it started. 3) Improved monitoring requirements will deliver better scientific oversight and if the benefits for nature fall short of what was included in the EDP, additional restoration measures must be put in place. These changes are all welcome, but risks do still remain. Firstly, we need to ensure these new key safeguards remain in place as the Bill continues to pass through Parliament. Secondly, there are elements of the Bill that must still be strengthened; plus safeguards must be included in secondary legislation, and in the accompanying guidance and policy, to ensure the new laws are correctly interpreted and applied. We will continue to push for a planning system that truly delivers the win-win for nature and development that the UK Government has promised. Full analysis: https://lnkd.in/ejMdpNGV #Nature #Planning #Conservation #EnvironmentalPolicy Image credit 📸 : Mark Williamson, RSPB Images

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Reports that Government may exempt small sites from Biodiversity Net Gain are deeply concerning. Removing essential protections only serves to weaken nature recovery at a time when we need it most. It is time to back BNG, build confidence in the nature market, and deliver on the ambition set out in the Environmental Improvement plan. The upcoming consultation response should strengthen BNG, not water it down. Read our full response in the image below and on our website 👇 https://lnkd.in/ezb9hBm5

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📍 Mathilde Jackson-Bue from Natural Resources Wales spoke at the Marine Nature Networks Conference about the Improving Marine Conservation Advice Project, which is funded by the Nature Networks Programme. 🧭 Through this ambitious, collaborative effort, the team has delivered 85 feature condition assessments and 12 conservation advice packages across Welsh marine protected sites: vital tools for strengthening site management and long-term marine conservation. ⚙️ The project is building the evidence base we need to better protect Wales’ marine habitats and species, ensuring that conservation decisions are grounded in robust, up-to-date data.

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