Defra issues guidance for public bodies in England on compliance with biodiversity duty

Defra has this month published guidance to help public authorities in England, including local authorities, understand the biodiversity duty and how to comply with it.

The guidance says: “Public authorities who operate in England must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity in England. This is the strengthened ‘biodiversity duty’ that the Environment Act 2021 introduces.

“This means that, as a public authority, you must:

1. Consider what you can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
2. Agree policies and specific objectives based on your consideration.
3. Act to deliver your policies and achieve your objectives.”

The guidance covers:

1. Who must comply with the biodiversity duty: including government departments or public bodies; local authorities or local planning authorities; and statutory undertakers.
2. When to meet your biodiversity duty
3. Consider relevant strategies
4. How your biodiversity duty helps achieve biodiversity goals and targets
5. Actions you could take
6. Manage land to improve biodiversity
7. Educate, advise and raise awareness
8. Review internal policies and processes
9. Prepare for biodiversity net gain
10. Reporting your biodiversity policies and actions
11. Footnotes

The guidance can be viewed here.