BNG

WHAT IS BNG?

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a planning and development approach that aims to leave the natural environment in a better state than it was before. Under BNG, developers must assess the ecological value of a site before starting work and ensure that, after development, biodiversity is measurably improved—typically by at least 10%. This can be achieved through on-site habitat creation or enhancement, off-site compensation, or biodiversity credits. BNG is now a legal requirement in England under the Environment Act 2021 and plays a key role in promoting more sustainable and nature-positive development.

HOW IT WORKS?

PRINCIPLES:

Enhancement: Projects must enhance biodiversity, leading to a net positive impact.
Measurement: Biodiversity changes are quantified using metrics to ensure gains are real and measurable.
Long-term: Gains should be secured and maintained in the long term, often for at least 30 years.

IMPLEMENTATION:

Assessment: Pre-development biodiversity assessments identify existing habitats and their conditions.
Planning: Integrates biodiversity considerations into the planning and design phases of development.
Mitigation Hierarchy: Follows steps to avoid, minimize, restore, and as a last resort, compensate for biodiversity loss.

BENEFITS:

Environmental: Supports the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity.
Economic: Can create sustainable development opportunities and green jobs.
Social: Enhances green spaces, contributing to health and well-being.

LEGISLATION AND POLICY:

Often mandated by national or local planning policies.
In the UK, the Environment Act 2021 requires new developments to achieve a 10% net gain in biodiversity.

APPLICATION:

Used in various sectors, including housing, infrastructure, and commercial development.
Ensures developments contribute to broader ecological networks and conservation goals.

How Drones and AI Can Support BNG Applications

Drones, combined with artificial intelligence (AI), provide powerful support for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) applications. Drones can capture high-resolution and multispectral imagery across development sites, enabling fast and accurate habitat surveys. AI tools can then analyse this data to automatically classify habitat types, assess condition, and calculate baseline biodiversity in line with DEFRA’s BNG metric. Over time, AI models can learn from site data to improve accuracy, detect subtle changes in habitat quality, and support long-term monitoring. This combination enhances the speed, consistency, and reliability of BNG assessments—helping local authorities, developers, and ecologists make better, evidence-based decisions.