Biodiversity Net Gain
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach used to improve a sites biodiversity value.
Habitat banks: What you need to know
Creating habitat banks is a conservation strategy designed to mitigate the negative impacts of development and land use changes on ecosystems and wildlife.
Accounting for seasonal impact, time constraints and evolving legislation, if you’re aiming to sell habitat units, you need to act as soon as possible to be at the front of the sellers queue. Mike Barker, Operational Director – Ecology, shares some key considerations for creating habitat banks and what we’ve learned from our projects so far.
Mike E Barker
Consider seasonal impact
With an oversupply of ‘paper’ habitat banks, you will want to get your ecological enhancements going on the ground to be at the front of the queue to sell. But variations in weather and climate can deeply affect habitat restoration efforts. Planting at the prime time will increase the likelihood of securing sellable habitat units.
The best time to plant is when soil is warm but wet and rain is forecast for the subsequent fortnight. Let nature do the watering.
The groundwork for creating habitat banks really needs to be laid in autumn, before the first frost. Sowing in autumn allows a good run up to being established in spring, so to be certain you’ll have habitat units to sell next year, it’s best to plant between September and November. Weather dependent, there’s also a window between March and May. Keeping in mind that as soon as the soil is dry, nothing will take, and it will also suppress any new growth.
You’ll also need to carry out a botanical survey to use as a baseline, which needs to take place before the end of September to ensure it’s reliable. Only specialist botanists are qualified to carry out these surveys to review and record the condition criteria for the habitat.
With the variable weather patterns of the UK, coupled with climate change extremes of hot/cold wet/dry, if weather conditions are favourable now, you can start restoring your land.
Anticipate the time involved
The time it takes to restore or create habitats will vary depending on the specific ecological conditions, the techniques used, and the desired outcomes. Some habitats may recover relatively quickly, while others may require years or decades to fully develop. Depending which habitat type you’re trying to unit, you need to be mindful of the time lag as nature runs its course; ponds and wetlands can take two to three years to become well-established, grasslands 10-20 years, and woodlands 30+ years.
As of January 2020, any improvements made to natural habitats or new habitat creations can qualify for biodiversity net gain (BNG) agreements..
Our ecology team is currently supporting a client to create habitat banks to sell and it’s expected to take around 12 years. Some of the seeding, particularly yellow rattle, suppresses dominant grasses to allow space for wildflowers to grow. Creating and profiting from habitat banks is a long-term process, and it’s important to be conscious that nothing is set in stone. You can gear up to sell a certain number of units, but only time will tell if the species will actually take and restore the land into sellable units. Some re-seeding and other interventions are required in the early years following the initial restoration to keep the process on track.
Sow suitable species
It’s important to determine which species will thrive in your habitat bank. Depending on the type of soil, different species will take, so it’s best to seek support from experts in your habitat type and location. Try to use local seed sources and reflect local plant communities.
While the requirement was previously a minimum of ten species of grasses and flowers in a one-metre quadrat, it’s now a minimum of ten wildflower species. This is why semi-parasitic species like yellow rattle are vital in developing habitat banks, as it draws nutrients from the roots and weakens the grass, suppressing growth and allowing space for wildflowers to flourish. It’s worth considering pre-ordering yellow rattle if you’re aiming to restore your land as resources are currently very limited.
Engage with stakeholders
To sell habitat units, the landowner must secure the habitat bank through conservation easements or planning obligations and register it with the local planning authority. Liaising with the planning authority is crucial in kickstarting your project and you’ll need to allow for a 3-4 month pre-planning process to ensure your development meets their requirements. Most habitat banks can take 18 months to come forward.
Look out for evolving legislation
If you’re uncertain about the potential of some sites, be cautionary about which uplifts you can bank on and sell. This process is still bedding in now that BNG legislation is in place and the number and value of the units created ultimately depends on your results on the ground.
