BiodiversityView for Local Authorities

With the UK focused on nature restoration work to reverse decades of depletion, BiodiversityView has been created by Map Impact to support the management and monitoring activities that Local Authorities (LAs) fulfil under government legislation.

Mapping and data are key features of Nature Recovery and underpin the Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) being delivered across 48 county areas through England. Each Area’s LNRS will identify and map the best locations for biodiversity enhancement and restoration – to achieve this there is a need for a baseline assessment of existing habitats and ongoing monitoring to track performance changes.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) becomes mandatory for large site developments in England from January 2024 and the link between LNRS and BNG is confirmed by the intention for an additional 15% biodiversity units to be created from habitats deemed to be strategic in the LNRS. Additionally, LNRS outputs will be used by LAs to inform local development plans.

Developers now have guidance on how to consider and approach biodiversity within the planning application process – best practice highlights the need for both developer and Local Planning Authority (LPA) to establish a baseline biodiversity assessment for candidate sites as early as possible, certainly at the beginning of pre-application discussions between parties.

Longer term, a holistic and consistent approach is needed to allow the enhancement of nature to be managed and understood at a national and international level. The UK government has committed to protect 30% of the land and sea in the UK for nature’s recovery by 2030 (30×30). Protected Areas are a critical component of nature restoration and support the fulfilment of the 30×30 objective. Site specific understanding of habitat condition is vital, but must be considered in a wider regional, national and international context.

BiodiversityView provides on demand UK coverage, identifying habitats together with their condition assessment and a confidence indicator. Map Impact is a partner of UKHab and outputs are aligned with its Defra mandated habitat classification system. Our highly collaboartive approach is Helping Nature Count.

With data delivery direct into any established GIS system, such as QGIS or ESRI, BiodiversityView is easily accessed with licences available for specific and wider use – LNRS licence for an Area Responsible Body and individual licences for LAs to cover BNG and other initiatives.