Fera Science Ltd has been officially appointed as a Responsible Body by Defra, under the Environment Act 2021, authorising the organisation to hold and manage legally binding conservation covenants linked to Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).

This new role will enable the organisation to support a broad range of parties involved with BNG agreements, including landowners, environmental consultants, local planning authorities and developers.

“We can now provide a unique combination of scientific knowledge and legal assurance to navigate this new landscape with confidence and secure lasting ecological outcomes,” explains Neill Hogg, business development manager at Fera.

Backed by over 100 years of environmental science expertise and a strong existing government partnership, Fera is uniquely positioned to deliver trusted stewardship of habitat creation and enhancement agreements that complement productive agriculture.

"We provide scientifically rigorous management of BNG agreements, which helps reduce risk for landowners, and supports other organisations in meeting environmental regulations,” Mr Hogg says.

“Alongside this, our team can utilise our LAND360 mapping service which combines remote sensing, GIS, and ecological expertise, to deliver high quality habitat and biodiversity data.”

About BNG

Introduced to create custodians of the natural environment and safeguard natural ecosystems, BNG requires new developments to deliver at least a 10% net improvement in biodiversity, secured by legally binding agreements that protect habitat gains for 30 years.

Fera’s new Responsible Body accreditation supports these ambitions by managing the legally binding agreements backed by robust scientific, ecological and legal assurance, essential for ensuring long-term compliance and ecological integrity.

Mr Hogg adds: “For BNG to be successful, a transformative approach is needed. We need to firmly establish environmental stewardship and natural capital enhancement at the centre of land management and development.

“We therefore encourage all organisations involved in land management, planning, consultancy and investment to engage with us as a trusted partner in navigating this evolving landscape to support a resilient and thriving environment.”

To get in touch with the Fera team to discuss BNG support, please contact Neill Hogg: Neill.Hogg@fera.co.uk