Voluntary Biodiversity Credits

Invest in the Environment with Voluntary Biodiversity Credits

With increasing levels of biodiversity loss, biodiversity net gain (BNG) was introduced in early 2024 as a measurable way of retaining and improving the current state of the environment in applicable planning projects. Using the DEFRA metric, BNG guarantees that development sites show a numerical improvement from pre-development to post-development, with the minimum requirement being a 10% uplift lasting for at least 30 years.

It is a requirement to deliver biodiversity net gain whenever it applies to a proposed development, but in some cases, developers or planners may benefit from going beyond the baseline condition to invest in nature enhancement, conservation and restoration. The ability to refer to voluntary biodiversity credits opens up further opportunities to support nature and play a part in nature’s recovery on a broader and more significant level.

What are Voluntary Biodiversity Credits?

Voluntary biodiversity credits are units of value that reflect genuine nature and climate benefits. Although they are similar to statutory biodiversity credits in that they are used for habitat creation, preservation or rehabilitation, voluntary credits aren’t a regulatory obligation, won’t contribute to accomplishing biodiversity net gain and cannot replace statutory credits. Instead, they are another avenue to support biodiversity under a flexible and market-based approach.

Each voluntary credit funds a specific biodiversity action – such as restoring degraded grasslands, enhancing woodland habitats or rewetting carbon-rich peatlands – and represents a measurable gain in ecological value. From the perspective of the local authorities, providing voluntary credits will demonstrate a commitment to nature conservation. In many cases, these gains are backed by long-term commitments, ensuring that the enhanced habitat is actively maintained and monitored for a set period following purchase, often 30 years or more.

By giving developers other possibilities for supporting the environment – such as via the voluntary biodiversity market, voluntary carbon market or global biodiversity framework – it is easy to prove to the local planning authority that all nature, planning and science-based targets set by them have been fulfilled. Not only that, but treating nature as a common currency makes it possible for developers to make measurable changes while supporting nature-positive projects and engaging indigenous and local communities.

How Do Voluntary Credits Work?

Biodiversity credit projects create voluntary credits to contribute to healthy ecosystems. Similar to carbon credit projects, such initiatives are part of nature-based solutions on a local, regional, national and even sometimes global scale. Voluntary biodiversity credits can even be connected with nature-based carbon projects or used alongside carbon credits to help organisations meet goals for boosting biodiversity and reducing emissions.

Voluntary biodiversity credits can also be tokenised in certain development schemes, turning them into digital assets that can be tracked, traded and verified transparently through blockchain or similar forms of technology. Depending on the project, purchasers may even acquire a legal interest, such as a title to the land or a conservation covenant that grants the right to oversee or enforce habitat management.

Purposes of Voluntary Biodiversity Credits

Split across similar categories, potential reasons for voluntary biodiversity credits include:

Boosting Planning Projects and Reputation

• Ensuring credibility and accountability with decision-makers and stakeholders
• Helping large companies to meet internal sustainability and corporate social responsibility goals
• Providing biodiversity offsets for impacts not covered by planning requirements
• Supporting an uplift in the condition of the environment beyond enforced conditions
• Using voluntary credits at the early stages of development to show a commitment to biodiversity

Driving Systemic Change and Ethical Nature Investment

• Building support from civil society and connecting with impact-led biodiversity funding
• Creating biodiversity finance through innovative conservation outcomes
• Delivering inclusive outcomes with informed consent and participation from indigenous peoples
• Eliminating biodiversity threats from unsustainable land use changes
• Heightening trust by meeting full transparency standards that prevent double-counting
• Redirecting funding from harmful subsidies to restoration-focused land use
• Strengthening projects involved in international institute action

Working Climate and Nature Concerns into Business Strategy

• Addressing biodiversity impacts across supply chains
• Combining credits with targets aimed at enhancing climate and nature performance
• Integrating nature concerns into sustainability reporting
• Leading projects aimed at efforts to store carbon
• Making projects meet high integrity standards and follow governance frameworks

Who Would Benefit from Voluntary Biodiversity Credits?

While developers and planners are the primary users of voluntary biodiversity credits, other industries and sectors could also make use of them.

Overall, voluntary biodiversity credits can apply to:

Examples of other uses for voluntary credits include investors looking for support with biodiversity projects, companies addressing impacts across supply chains, and service providers building biodiversity credit schemes.

Get Voluntary Credits from Our Team

Securing voluntary biodiversity credits from our team is a tried and tested process, and it proves to be straightforward, transparent and fully aligned with your development goals.

From developers of large projects who want to display a dedication to biodiversity to businesses that want to step up their influence on supporting the environment, we will help you to buy biodiversity credits that deliver genuine ecological value on top of the minimum requirements.

Process for Obtaining Voluntary Credits

Read on for an explanation of how we obtain voluntary biodiversity credits for our clients:

1. Consultation

Our team analyse your project, picking out any opportunities to integrate nature and pinpointing areas where voluntary biodiversity credits could add value.

2. Sourcing

Based on our in-house habitat bank and a catalogue of trusted landholder partners, we match your needs and specifications with biodiversity conservation or biodiversity restoration projects.

3. Allocation

Whether you need one biodiversity credit or a much larger portfolio, we allocate the credits based on your impact profile, providing all necessary documentation as evidence in planning applications or corporate disclosures.

4. Support

After the voluntary credits are allocated, we remain available to provide guidance, support credit registration if needed, and validate the value to stakeholders in the private sector, local planning authorities or environmental governance bodies.

Experts in Biodiversity Net Gain

Ever since the concept of biodiversity net gain was first announced by the UK government, Arbtech has been helping developers with following the policy requirements. We cover a wide range of different assessments to support planning, from arboriculture to archaeology, air and noise to contaminated land, ecology to landscape, and so much more. Whatever you need to satisfy your planning officer, we can either provide it ourselves or at least pass you on to one of our many trusted partners.

The members of our team who conduct services relating to BNG are experts in the topic and will consider a selection of viable options for ensuring that your development plans sit within the parameters of the policy. Our biodiversity net gain consultants have seen every possible obstacle caused by the mandate, producing quick and effective solutions to enable the planning project to continue, the environment to be adequately supported, and applications for planning permission to be granted.

Other BNG Services We Offer

The BNG requirement went through a transition period before becoming a mandatory element of planning, and as it applies to so many different types of development throughout the country, we’ve provided numerous services to tick every box expected by the local authorities.

If you need help with BNG, either speak to our team or refer to the primary and secondary services listed below:

Primary Services

• BNG Assessments
• BNG Plans
• BNG Reports
• BNG Rapid Risk Reports

Secondary Services

• Biodiversity Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMPs)
• River Condition Assessments (RCAs)
• Nutrient Neutrality
• Support for Biodiversity Gain Plans

Get in Touch for Help

If you’ve been directed by your local planning authority, advised by one of our team or simply want to show evidence that you are concerned about the impact of development on the environment, speak to Arbtech about acquiring voluntary biodiversity credits. In addition to conducting BNG assessments and creating BNG plans and reports, our team are actively involved in voluntary biodiversity credit schemes, which means we’re ideally placed to offer tailored guidance to suit your needs.

You may be fully aware that voluntary biodiversity credits are the way to go, or you might want help before choosing whether or not to take that route. Either way, speak to our team and we can guide you based on your needs and the circumstances of your proposed development. Call us, email us or fill out one of the contact forms on our website, and from that point, we will be able to speak to you and advise you in the most suitable way to benefit your project.