PRINCIPAL ECOLOGIST APPOINTED TO TASK FORCE TO DRIVE CHANGE IN ENVIRONMENTAL NET GAIN POLICY

A panel of environmental experts has appointed an ecologist from Harris Lamb to help shape its work on driving forward Environmental Net Gain policies.

Rob Harrison, Principal Ecologist for the business, has been appointed to the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) Environmental Net Gain Task Group, a dedicated group of professionals tasked with researching and steering policies regarding environmental net gain.

The task group was set up further to the publication of the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan in 2018, which committed to expanding the net gain approaches used for biodiversity to include wider natural capital benefits, such as flood protection, recreation and improved water and air quality, and implement them alongside existing regulations that protect our most threatened or valuable habitats and species.

A key aspect to the plan was enabling planning authorities to target environmental enhancements that are needed most in their areas and give flexibility to developers in providing them. 

The CIEEM task group is responsible for researching and discussing how environmental net gain should be implemented and providing insight to help influence government decisions.

Rob said; “Along with most of my Environment colleagues, I am passionate about ensuring that Environmental Net Gain remains a key priority, and I’m thrilled to have been appointed to this collective to ensure that we keep the issue at the fore.

“Myself and my fellow panellists will undertake reviews of any approaches to Environmental Net Gain and offsetting worldwide and review the methodologies available for natural capital and ecosystem service assessments worldwide, while producing guidelines for ENG of international relevance and having input into ENG policy for the UK and Ireland.

“It is a hugely important issue with mounting public awareness, and I am honoured to have been selected to play a part in driving this forward in the coming months and years,” he added.