Habitat opportunity mapping: Identifying sites for enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services

31st October 2019

Description

Government across the UK is encouraging the formulation of plans for strategic management of the natural environment. This includes nature recovery networks, local natural capital plans, as well as the assessment of biodiversity and environmental net gain from built development. As a result, local authorities and others involved in the strategic management of land and water need not only to have a baseline understanding of their natural capital assets and the benefits that flow from them, but also the potential that these assets provide to further enhance both biodiversity and ecosystem services. GIS-based habitat opportunity mapping can be used to identify locations where habitats can be created or restored to enhance biodiversity and a range of ecosystem services. Using a number of case studies across England, Alison Holt from Natural Capital Solutions demonstrated this approach and how it is being used in decisions in both urban and rural settings.