BS 8683:2021 Process for designing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain. Specification

Standard number: BS 8683:2021

Pages: 38

Released: 2021-08-23

ISBN: 978 0 539 01986 5

Name: Process for designing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain. Specification

Status: Standard

Overview

In an era where environmental sustainability is more critical than ever, the BS 8683:2021 Process for designing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain. Specification stands as a beacon for organizations committed to making a positive impact on biodiversity. This comprehensive standard provides a structured approach to designing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), ensuring that development projects leave the natural environment in a measurably better state than before.

Why Choose BS 8683:2021?

BS 8683:2021 is not just a guideline; it is a robust framework that helps organizations integrate biodiversity considerations into their planning and development processes. Here are some compelling reasons to adopt this standard:

• Comprehensive Guidance: With 38 pages of detailed instructions, this standard covers every aspect of BNG, from initial planning to implementation and monitoring.
• Up-to-Date Information: Released on August 23, 2021, BS 8683:2021 incorporates the latest research and best practices in biodiversity conservation.
• Credibility: As a British Standard, it carries the weight of authority and is recognized globally for its rigor and reliability.
• Measurable Outcomes: The standard emphasizes measurable improvements in biodiversity, ensuring that your efforts lead to tangible, positive results.

Key Features

BS 8683:2021 is designed to be user-friendly and practical, making it accessible to a wide range of stakeholders, including developers, planners, and environmental consultants. Here are some of its key features:

• Structured Process: The standard outlines a clear, step-by-step process for achieving BNG, from initial assessment to long-term monitoring.
• Stakeholder Engagement: It emphasizes the importance of engaging with stakeholders, including local communities, to ensure that BNG initiatives are socially inclusive and widely supported.
• Risk Management: The standard provides guidance on identifying and mitigating risks associated with biodiversity loss, helping organizations to manage their environmental impact effectively.
• Performance Metrics: It includes specific metrics for measuring biodiversity gains, allowing organizations to track their progress and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.

Who Should Use This Standard?

BS 8683:2021 is suitable for a wide range of users, including:

• Developers: Ensure that your projects contribute positively to biodiversity and comply with regulatory requirements.
• Planners: Integrate BNG into planning policies and frameworks to promote sustainable development.
• Environmental Consultants: Provide expert advice and support to clients on achieving BNG.
• Local Authorities: Implement BNG initiatives to enhance local biodiversity and improve community well-being.

How BS 8683:2021 Supports Sustainable Development

BS 8683:2021 aligns with global sustainability goals, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By adopting this standard, organizations can contribute to several SDGs, such as:

• SDG 15 - Life on Land: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, halt biodiversity loss, and ensure the conservation of natural habitats.
• SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by integrating BNG into urban planning.
• SDG 13 - Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts by enhancing biodiversity, which plays a crucial role in climate regulation.

Real-World Applications

BS 8683:2021 has been successfully applied in various sectors, demonstrating its versatility and effectiveness. Here are some examples:

• Construction: Developers have used the standard to design buildings and infrastructure projects that enhance local biodiversity, creating green spaces and wildlife corridors.
• Urban Planning: Planners have integrated BNG into city development plans, resulting in greener, more sustainable urban environments.
• Corporate Sustainability: Companies have adopted the standard as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies, demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship.

Conclusion

Incorporating biodiversity considerations into development projects is no longer optional; it is a necessity for ensuring a sustainable future. The BS 8683:2021 Process for designing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain. Specification provides a comprehensive, authoritative framework for achieving this goal. By adopting this standard, organizations can make a meaningful contribution to biodiversity conservation, enhance their sustainability credentials, and create lasting positive impacts on the natural environment.

BS 8683:2021

This standard BS 8683:2021 Process for designing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain. Specification is classified in these ICS categories:

• 03.100.01 Company organization and management in general
• 13.020.01 Environment and environmental protection in general

This British Standard specifies a process to design, implement, maintain and monitor BNG outcomes from a development project.

It does not cover the actual delivery of BNG. It provides a framework to demonstrate that a project has followed a process that is based on the UK’s BNG Good Practice Principles [N1]. Complying with the requirements within this British Standard is to follow a process to achieve BNG that is based on good practice.

This British Standard is for any sector of industry, including residential, mixed-use, energy, water, transport, communications and infrastructure across the UK. It is for any scale of project from individual house-builds to larger developments, as well as estate management, whether they are subject to consent through the planning system, or another consenting process (e.g. Development Consent Orders) or are classified as permitted development. It can also be used by land managers aiming to generate BNG through management of an estate. Hereafter the term “project” refers to both development projects and land management activities.

This British Standard covers terrestrial and freshwater habitats, and intertidal habitats down to the mean low water mark. It is applicable across the UK and for projects that affect biodiversity and those with limited or no impact on biodiversity, as well as projects aiming to achieve BNG on- and/or off-site.

It first sets out requirements that apply throughout the BNG process; these requirements are in Clause 4.

Clause 5 to Clause 8 contain requirements for each of these stages of the BNG process:

1. Clause 5: Preparation

2. Clause 6: Design

3. Clause 7: Implementation

4. Clause 8: Maintenance and management

A project might involve requirements to achieve BNG from, for example, a planning condition or compliance with legislation. This British Standard covers a process to achieve BNG, notwithstanding any such requirements. It does not infer compliance with any planning condition, legislation or statutory requirement, and is independent from any mandatory or legislative requirement for BNG.

Furthermore, following the BNG process in this British Standard does not substitute the requirements to assess ecological impacts and report them, e.g. as part of an EcIA. Rather, this British Standard builds on, and is not intended to repeat, existing good practice for biodiversity surveys, impact assessments, mitigation and compensation for projects.

Projects with impacts on irreplaceable habitats cannot achieve BNG. These projects can follow the process in this British Standard for habitats that are not irreplaceable but cannot claim project-wide achievement of BNG. These projects need to transparently and comprehensively refer to the impacts on irreplaceable habitats in communications and reports.