Corporate Clients
Demonstrate your Organisation’s Commitment to Biodiversity
BioGains provides corporate clients with a simple and government regulated way to demonstrate their commitment to British biodiversity whilst making significant progress in meeting their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments.
Frequently asked questions
How does biodiversity offsetting work?
The Environment Act created a new concept called Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) that was initially aimed at developers by creating a measurable system that ensured all developments increased the biodiversity value of their site by a minimum of 10%. The tools and regulation that were formed for this piece of legislation have created the ability for a highly regulated offsetting market for other interested parties to contribute to nature restoration in England via a controlled and transparent market in BNG units.
What is a BNG unit and how is it calculated?
BNG is facilitated via a tool known as the Biodiversity Net Gain Metric. This is essentially a spreadsheet with a lot of macros where multiple environmental factors combine to generate a baseline score or value for a specific habitat. Following strict criteria to enhance these habitats or to create others it is possible to increase the baseline value with the uplift being the ‘net gain’ in units that can then be traded.
How is this market regulated?
BNG units can only be sold once they have been registered on the national register that is administered by Natural England a government agency. Prior to submission to the register the land in question is assessed by professional ecologists with oversight by the local planning authority. All land that generate the BNG units is not only assessed for it’s suitability but a legal agreement is placed on the land guaranteeing that the habitat management plan is carried out for a minimum of 30 years.
How could you help us promote our investment in BNG units?
We would share with you the full management plan for the site in question that explains what was there before and what we will be delivering over the 30 year period. In addition, we will provide you with a short media release summarising the investment and what you will help deliver, along with pictures for promotional use. For an additional fee, we are able to produce a short film to promote our partnerships.
Where would the habitats be delivered & could we visit them?
The habitat banks delivering the new or enhanced habitats could be anywhere in England. The sites may not look too exciting for the first stages of their transformation but yes, there would still be opportunities for you to visit the site in question if you saw a benefit from such a trip, and as the habitat evolves.
How long a commitment do we need to make?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) as a principal in the UK is going to be setup around a 30 year time frame. We obviously hope most of the habitats we create go on to support wildlife for many years after that but the legislation surrounding BNG involves a minimum 30 year commitment. However, your commitment would be the initial payment up front to deliver the habitat creation and management for 30 years meaning on signing our agreement and making the payment all future responsibilities and liabilities would cease to exist. You would however, be able to promote your activities for the next 30 years.
What scale of project and costs do we need to commit to?
Within reason, there is no minimum or maximum commitment, we can look for a solution to fit your budget. We will have schemes where your organisation can fund a small percentage of the project or a variety of schemes where you can fund the whole project.
What guarantees to we have that compliance is adhered to?
A legal agreement on the land sets out a schedule for a professional ecologist to monitor each scheme to determine how the habitats are progressing in relation to the prescriptions setout in the original management plan. A legal commitment held with the local planning authority requires us to supply these ecologist report to them that feedback if the management plan is being delivered as planned or if management changes are required, these monitoring reports will be shared with you throughout the project life.
