Tag Archives: biodiversity offsetting

further thoughts on the Net Gain consultation

Following on from my general critique of the Net Gain proposals, here are a few specific comments in case anyone is thinking about responding to the consultation before the deadline of the 10th February. 1. On page 6 of the … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity offsetting, housing, Natural Capital, net gain, NPPF, planning | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Accountancy will not save nature: the problems with “Net Gain”

It’s difficult to believe that while we watch – ok, there are probably only a few of us now hanging on to the bitter end, as most will have given up and gone off to do something more sensible – … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity offsetting, housing, Natural Capital, net gain | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Earthwatch Natural Capital debate today: Does nature come with a price tag?

It’s going to be the warmest day of the year so far (at least down here) so of course rather than go and enjoy the fantastic nature that a beautiful spring day in Dorset has to offer, I’m getting on … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity offsetting, Dieter Helm, Natural Capital | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Forget Gross Domestic Product, we need to measure Gross Natural Product

        Trading Floor at The New York Stock Exchange 1963   We have now had four and a half years of austerity, of seeing our public services, and more widely, the public realm in Britain being cut … Continue reading

Posted in economics, neoliberalism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Labour commits to building 200,000 new homes a year: Great: where?

At the Labour Conference both Hilary Benn, Shadow CLG Secretary, and Ed Miliband, both promised massive new house-building, up to 200,000 new homes a year by the end of the parliament. Benn said ” … we will give communities, as … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, biodiversity offsetting, bungalows, housing, Labour, Lodge Hill | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Farewell Owen Paterson: your work here is done

And so the rumours have finally been confirmed, Owen Paterson has been asked to stow away his wellies for the last time and return to the back benches. It may seem incredible that Paterson only became Secretary of State against … Continue reading

Posted in corporate lobbying, deregulation, GMOs, Matt Ridley, Neonicotinoids, NFU, Owen Paterson | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Biodiversity Offsetting: Planning Appeal agrees housing on Essex flower meadows will create “environmental gain.”.

Tomorrow sees an event to bring together organisations and individuals who are very worried and angry about Biodiversity Offsetting. The Forum on Natural Commons event “Nature is not for sale” is taking place tomorrow evening in Regents Park, London. This … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity offsetting, housing, meadows, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 24 Comments

Mapping local greenspace: will it help protect these green lungs?

moody greenspace (photo Miles King) As some of you may have guessed, I’m not the biggest fan of Policy Exchange. This is the think tank the Tories love most – its ex-treasurer is the new Natural England chair, Andrew Sells, … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity offsetting, greenspace, housing, Policy Exchange | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

A Lenten Story: The Gamekeeper’s Gibbet, Biodiversity Onsetting and Confirmation Bias

spot the badger The Gamekeeper’s Gibbet Not so long ago, a walk in the country would entail this scene – a gamekeeper’s gibbet. Vermin would be presented by the estate gamekeeper, neatly strung on fences or hung from trees, as … Continue reading

Posted in agricultural pests, animism, badgers, biodiversity offsetting, blood sports, Defra, Owen Paterson | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Offsetting at Lodge Hill rears its ugly head again.

CIEEM held a conference on biodiversity offsetting last week, and I was lucky enough to be the first speaker. I had put in an abstract for a talk which was highly sceptical of offsetting and whether it would provide any … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, biodiversity offsetting, Lodge Hill, RSPB, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments