BBC Wildlife: Nature by numbers
February 16, 2021RSK Biocensusโs rewilding business has once again caught the attention of the press as new environmental legislation is set to mandate the delivery of a 10% biodiversity net gain for many developments.
BBC Wildlife Magazine journalist James Fair spoke to RSK Wilding Director, Jon Davies, about whether โturning nature into a numberโ and applying biodiversity net gain metrics could โturn the tide of the wildlife losses that have caused the UK to become one of the most nature-depleted countries in the worldโ. The article considers whether landscape-scale rewilding could prove a better alternative to on-site mitigation. Jon believes that this will certainly the case in many cases, or at least a combination of the two. New RSK Biocensus business, RSK Wilding, will help clients to not only meet the requirements for biodiversity net gain (BNG) through rewilding, but also to offset their carbon emissions. By doing so, the business aims to help reverse decades of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and the impacts of climate change by sensitively rewilding land in collaboration with landowners, local communities and non-governmental organisations. The degree of rewilding will be determined by the size and type of site, Jon continues.
One of the key advantages for biodiversity net gain is that developers will be encouraged to build on unwanted land with โlittle wildlife valueโ, the article continues. โWildlife-rich areasโ are more likely to be left undisturbed because they will be more expensive to compensate for through biodiversity net gain.
One danger that the article warns against, is โhow metrics can be used to distort the truth and twist reality to the benefit of the developerโ. It cites Gavray Meadows in Oxfordshire, UK, as an example. The wildlife-rich area was granted planning permission for housing in 2016. This was soon overturned in court when the biodiversity metric used was found to be distorted.
Jon, however, is confident that the new legislation will have a positive effect, and โbelieves the combined levers of net gain and rewilding allow us to plan wildlife restoration in a more strategic mannerโ. He is looking at working in locations highlighted by Natural England as priority areas for restoration, thus potentially bringing greater connectivity to the UK landscape. The article goes on to note that โRecreating wetlands – with the help of beavers – could help to store water upstream of areas that are liable to flood, and sequester carbon, contributing to UK emissions reduction plansโ. These other natural capital benefits, in addition to biodiversity restoration, are another reason why rewilding is becoming so popular.
Subscribers can read the article in full in BBC Wildlifeโs February 2021 issue (pp.28-31).
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๐ People deserve to be their authentic selves and love freely without fear.
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Ryan Dunderdale, Senior Surveyor at Central Alliance, providing technical support and on-site training to datum plate install teams down in Bristol.
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๐ In the June edition of our #employeespotlight, we spoke with with Rosie Pearce at Stephenson Halliday and Carmen Snowdon at WRc Group to find out about their recent achievements ๐
๐ Congratulations to you both!
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"If you donโt feel valued, represented and respected in your workplace, then inevitably your #wellbeing will suffer.โ
๐ In our latest edition of #ADayInTheLife, we spoke with Ellen Lapworth-Maisey, Wellbeing, #Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at RSK โ a fascinating position that helps to create an inclusive and empowering #culture for all RSK staff.
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Some pictures of the Envireau Water staff on site.
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๐ถ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐
#RSKSteps came to an end on Tuesday 31 May after a month of stepping adventures.
๐๐ป ๐ป๐๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐:
โ๏ธ1449 participants
โ๏ธ332,268,416 steps
โ๏ธยฃ1500 raised for our chosen charity, MIND!
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๐ Join Dirk Van Look and Chris Hughes on our webinar all about #PFAS โ perfluoroalkyl substances, which are both human-made and known to be harmful to humans.
๐ก We will showcase real-life examples to demonstrate how RSK is responding and developing capabilities to assess these emerging #contaminants.
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๐ข RSK is pleased to announce it has further expanded its presence in Ireland by acquiring one of the most reputable tree care companies in the country.
๐ณ Dermot Casey Tree Care was founded in the 1970s by Managing Director Dermot Casey and is one of the most highly regarded tree surgery companies in Ireland, with more than 50 years of experience.
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