Achieving biodiversity net gain: are we ready?
This event is currently FULLY BOOKEDThis event will showcase how to measure and achieve a biodiversity net gain on development projects - looking at a variety of approaches taken including the Defra metric and alternative calculation measures.
Background
The corporate sustainability world is advancing. Setting new challenges and developing innovative solutions is allowing businesses to grow and develop following the economic downturn. However it is important that growth opportunities do not come at the expense of the environment and thereby undermine future growth potential.
In recent years we have seen a number of initiatives aimed at bringing the environment and business community closer together. Terms such as ecosystem services, green infrastructure and natural capital are now commonplace in tackling pressing environmental issues. Despite encouraging steps being taken to reduce carbon and waste, biodiversity still lags behind. This is partly due to the difficulty in quantifying diverse and dynamic ecosystems.
Putting a number on biodiversity enables businesses to better assess how their decisions impact on the environment and what actions are needed to avoid or reduce the impact. Where impacts are unavoidable, a standardised number for biodiversity can provide more consistent and effective decisions on how much compensation is needed – not just for developers, but also relevant stakeholders such as local authorities, conservation organisations and local communities.
In 2014 the European Union launched its No Net Loss (NNL) initiative which aims to achieve no net biodiversity loss as a minimum. Part of achieving no net loss is to influence decision making by business leaders through numbers. Using a biodiversity unit metric allows those working in the industry to speak about biodiversity in business terms which in turn leads to positive scenarios for a growing economy and sustainable environment.
A further step on from No Net Loss is achieving biodiversity net gain which seeks to increase the abundance and quality of biodiversity assets whilst guarding against the loss of irreplaceable habitats. Methods of achieving biodiversity net gain involves safeguarding and enhancing biodiversity already present and/or providing new areas of habitat and features for wildlife appropriate to the local landscape.
Why attend
This event will:
- provide practical advice on how to measure biodiversity and achieve net gain on developments
- encourage closer inter-disciplinary links between relevant disciplines and stakeholders for measuring biodiversity and achieving biodiversity net gain on developments
- highlight how biodiversity net gain can provide positive scenarios for nature conservation at both local and national level.
Who should attend
Academics, asset managers, consultants, engineers, ecologists, landscape architects, urban designers and local planning authority representatives.
Programme
14.30 Registration and refreshments
15:00 Chair’s welcome
Julia Baker, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff
15:05 Network Rail Infrastructure Projects Net Positive pilots
Amelia Woodley, Network Rail
15:20 The Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Pilot – creating more, larger and
connected habitats
David Lowe, Warwickshire County Council
15:35 Monitoring mitigation outcomes: measurement of biodiversity change via
high-throughput DNA taxonomy
Dr Kat Bruce, Nature Metrics
16:00 Coffee break
16:15 Bicester EcoTown: The opportunities & Challenges of Implementing a Biodiversity
Net Gain Masterplan
Dr Martina Girvan & Aydin Zorlutuna, Arcadis
16:30 Implementing the responsible development framework for biodiversity - John
Lewis Partnership
Andrew Cameron, Independent & Dr Peter Shepherd, BSG Ecology
16:50 Topic to be confirmed
Dave McCabe, Tarmac
17:05 Break-out session
17:50 Feedback, discussion & next steps
18:15 Close
When
2 December 2015
15:00 – 18:15 (registration from 14:30)
Drinks reception to follow at 18:15
Where
CIRIA offices, Griffin Court,
15 Long Lane, EC1A 9PN
Fees
Free for CIRIA Core, Associate and Network members
£75 for non-members
Booking
If you are unable to book online contact Patrick Williams on 020 7549 3300. Your completed booking form can be returned by post or email to Patrick Williams.