Is BNG Failing Invertebrates? Dave Goddard Co-Authors New Study

Introduced as a mandatory planning requirement in England in 2024, BNG mandates that new developments must result in at least a 10% net increased in biodiversity. While the policy aims to align development with nature recovery, the authors of the paper raise concerns about its current implementation.

The Promise and Pitfalls of BNG

Whilst the authors agree that BNG has the potential to help meet ambitions such as those laid out in the Global Biodiversity Framework 2030, its current habitat-focused approach risks missing the mark for many species. Because BNG calculations are largely driven by habitat metrics, they can overlook the ecological needs of specific taxa, particularly invertebrates.

Invertebrates are a functionally essential but rapidly decreasing group of species. Yet, under the current model, BNG may results in the creation of smaller, uniform and lower quality habitats. This not only reduces their suitability for invertebrates, but may also contribute to further habitat fragmentation.

Realigning BNG with Invertebrate Conservation

Rather than scrapping the policy, the paper sets out a positive and practical vision for how BNG could be improved to better support invertebrate biodiversity. The authors suggest a way forward that realigns BNG with what we know to be crucial for successful conservation, and ensures it complements other policy mechanisms such as the National Pollinator Strategy.

Key recommendations include:

• Incorporating invertebrate-specific metrics to ensure habitat creation and restoration projects support the full complexity of invertebrate communities.
• Improving habitat quality and connectivity to maintain viable populations and promote ecological resilience.
• Ongoing monitoring and adaptive management to ensure BNG projects truly deliver lasting biodiversity benefits, especially for invertebrates.

This paper is a timely reminder that effective conservation isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about understanding the needs of all species, including those that are often overlooked. At Baker Consultants, we’re committed to applying these insights in our BNG work and ensuring that the voices of functionally vital species like invertebrates are not lost in the policy noise.

Read the full paper here.

Our invertebrate specialists at Baker Consultants offer expert advice and field surveys to ensure your project meets both regulatory requirements and ecological best practice. Whether you’re working on a BNG scheme or want to better understand the invertebrate value of your site, we’re here to help. Get in touch via our contact form on the website, call us on +44 (0)1629 593958 or email us at info@bakerconsultants.co.uk.