Climate resilience and Nationally Significant Infrastructure
With Nationally Significant Infrastructure now bound to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain, developers are faced with the challenge of delivering lasting impact in a rapidly changing climate.
The UK government last week confirmed that Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will be applicable to all Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects in England from November this year. This confirmation concludes a prolonged period of uncertainty and speculation, following a consultation on proposals initially mooted in 2021.
Whilst this development is welcome news for nature across the country, it presents a new challenge for infrastructure developers, particularly for those aiming to deliver gains on site which will need to last at least 30 years. Planning, implementing, and maintaining habitats is already challenging, yet our rapidly changing climate exacerbates this task, requiring practitioners to design for increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, including hotter, drier summers and milder, wetter winters.
Fortunately, research teams at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have already begun to tackle these issues, identifying methods for climate adaptation throughout the development lifecycle. Powered by this science, Kew Reach is working with asset developers to design habitats with resilience at their core. From climate-resilient tree species selection to comprehensive maintenance, we are helping to create landscapes capable of facing the challenges of the years ahead:
Climate-resilient tree selection: Combining climate projections with tree traits and natural distributions to understand which trees are better suited for our changing climate.
Systems design: Designing functional habitats on a holistic basis, incorporating the latest science, including the importance of mycological partnerships and below-ground biodiversity.
Genetic diversity: Through provenance selection and habitat design, ensuring genetic diversity to enhance resilience to novel pests and diseases, the threat of which is increasing as the climate shifts.
Ecosystem service benefits: Designing landscapes that enhance the flow of ecosystem services, including cooling, water retention, and air quality improvements.
Horticultural skills: Drawing on the world-leading expertise of Kew’s horticultural teams to define best practice and train implementation and maintenance teams to properly care for gain sites.
Monitoring: Leveraging the latest monitoring techniques to assess a suite of metrics, ensuring Biodiversity Net Gain is being delivered and maintained.
Through this integrated approach, we help to bridge the gap between rigorous botanical science and practical infrastructure delivery. By embedding long-term ecological viability into the planning process, we ensure that the transition to mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain shifts from a regulatory hurdle, to a foundational opportunity to create a more resilient, nature-positive future for the UK’s built environment.
Top picture: Ian Cylkowski on Unsplash