Tom Butterworth
15th Oct – Public Spaces Theatre / 10am – 10:45am
Realising its Potential: The Opportunities of Biodiversity Net Gain
The eagerly awaited legislation was introduced earlier this year, mandating a 10% biodiversity gain on new developments, as well as a 30-year management plan. Is it proving to be as successful as hoped? Where are the biggest opportunities for those working in the public spaces sector? What do designers and contractors need to consider when choosing solutions for each site, and how can suppliers assist to ensure success? Our panel discuss the ongoing impact of Biodiversity Net Gain.
BIO
Tom is the Nature Leader for ARUP and Director for the UK Business and Biodiversity Forum. He has extensive experience in nature positive, natural capital and biodiversity assessments and is a technical advisory on biodiversity for the British Standards Institute and the International Standard Organisation and sits on the metric working group International Advisory Panel of Biodiversity Credits.
Tom was central to the development of the Biodiversity Net Gain approach in England and Scotland, developing the metrics, informing the policy, and authoring the industry guidance. Tom has over 27 years’ experience working for wildlife. Over this time, he has led practical management of protected sites, developed local, regional, and national biodiversity strategies and policies, led programs of research, and managed the delivery of the England’s biodiversity strategy.
Tom is a Fellow for the Royal Society of Biology and the Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management.
