What is Habitat Restoration and Why is it Important?

The local habitats in the UK are fundamental for the survival of our native and migratory species. They also provide tangible benefits to people, too. However, development can lead to damage to key ecosystems – habitat restoration is a way to mitigate these damages, and even provide better habitats as a result.

At The Habitat Restoration Co., we work to ensure habitat restorations are completed to the highest standards, reaching your goals for biodiversity net gain. In this article we’ll discuss what habitat restoration is, the benefits it provides to people and wildlife, and how you can achieve it.

Get in touch with the team today to find out more about our services.

What is Habitat Restoration?

Habitat restoration is the process of restoring flora and fauna that might have been displaced during a development. Whether that’s woodland restoration, wetlands restoration, or any other kind of habitat, the principle is basically the same: to give back to the environment.

The restoration of a habitat doesn’t necessarily need to be in the same place where the development occurs. While this is often preferable since it preserves the location and occupants of the habitat – a key point for migratory species and national heritage – it isn’t always possible. Habitat restorations can include:

  • Planning for habitat protection during development
  • Restoring any damage to a habitat on a development site
  • Compensating by creating new habitats in other locations, such as through planting trees
  • Maintenance of habitats to ensure longevity
  • The Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) regulations require developments to have at least a 10% gain for the habitats they affect. This means that developments will have a positive effect on wildlife, and impresses the need for habitat restoration services to ensure you’re meeting this target.

    Find out more about the services that make up habitat restoration >

    The Importance of Habitat Restoration

    As well as being a mandatory requirement for any development that effects a habitat, restoration also comes with a number of additional benefits. These benefits are largely the reason why the regulations came about, but they can also help to safeguard your assets and work towards environmental targets.

    The Benefits for People

    Natural habitats play an important role in our everyday lives. Forests provide fresh, clean air, but their roots also serve as a stopgap for erosion – preventing subsidence and keeping our properties and communities intact.

    Wetlands, on the other hand, offer a vital location for irrigation and water purification. Without this, much more would need to be spent on ensuring good quality for our water.

    On a similar note, flood plains act as a buffer zone, preventing overflowing rivers and excessive rain from causing damage to houses and infrastructure.

    Even without these societal benefits, the UK’s habitats are a huge part of our heritage. From nature reserves to ancient woodland, there are many different places of extreme natural beauty that need to be protected to ensure our heritage, wildlife, and countrywide aesthetics live on.

    The Benefits for Ecosystems

    Ecosystems rely on a balance between habitat and wildlife. Habitat is more than just location – it’s the building up of food, shelter, and the conditions required to sustain a variety of life. The wildlife, both flora and fauna, rely on specific habitats to survive and thrive.

    Habitat restoration, therefore, works to allow these ecosystems to continue on. Whether this is through replicating them in an appropriate location, or through protecting their existing one, habitat restoration aims to ensure better outcomes for wildlife.

    Keep the location of the ecosystem in mind is important, as this can have a knock-on effect to other things in the area (such as erosion or the local look and feel), and it can also affect the patterns and survival of migratory species.

    Since BNG regulations require a 10% increase to biodiversity, the benefits our ecosystems receive from habitat restoration should be obvious. So long as the proper diligence and methods are carried out, all life in the UK stands to gain from habitat restoration efforts.

    The Benefits for the Planet

    The grand scheme of habitat restoration is a net positive effect on the planet as a whole. The main ways this is achieved are:

  • Habitat protection and restoration meaning more varied and stable ecosystems
  • Diversity for flora and fauna, supporting the lifecycle and enabling them to thrive
  • Re-greening and woodland restoration leading to fresher air and reduced carbon
  • Maintenance for grounds and woodlands (such as through tree surgery) ensuring the longevity of natural spaces
  • Overall, since habitat restoration provides benefits for people, places, and the planet, it is clear to see its importance. The next step, then, is to find methods and providers for habitat restoration so that your efforts aren’t in vain and that the ecosystems you help build will last for years to come.

    For professional habitat restoration that makes an impact, contact us today.

    How to Achieve Habitat Restoration

    Habitat restoration can be a challenging process, and it requires consideration throughout all stages of your project to ensure you get the best results for the lowest investment. Here are the three steps you need to take to achieve restoration for your habitats, including during planning, development, and aftercare.

    1.Ecological Impact Management

    Proper planning and management before development even begins is the best first step towards your habitat restoration efforts. This mean considering:

  • What habitats on your sites could be affected
  • The extent of these habitats, which then informs the extent of the restoration you need to carry out
  • The feasibility for protecting the existing habitat versus restoring it afterwards
  • The steps needed to protect or restore the habitat
  • Location, timeline, and maintenance efforts for habitat restoration in new areas
  • Only once all these steps have been considered should a development be carried out. Without proper management for your ecological impact, you will likely incur more damage to ecosystems and greater costs down the line, so it’s important to plan ahead.

    2.Biodiversity Protection

    Once you’ve got your plan in place, you should then work out the specifics of your biodiversity net gain implementation. This requires having measures in place to protect the ecosystems on your sites, and restoration efforts planned – or even already in progress – to reach the 10% BNG that’s required for your development.

    3.Ecosystem Ecosystem Establishment

    After you’ve completed your development and the subsequent biodiversity efforts, you’ll need to make sure the ecosystems you’ve put in place are given time to become established.

    It can take a while for ecosystems to recover, especially when there’s been significant damage or relocation. As such, you should continue your BNG efforts through maintenance and review of the ecosystems you’ve helped build.

    Maintenance and protection can also help improve the look of your developments, such as through grounds maintenance services like strimming, footpaths, and mowing.

    Professional Habitat Restoration and Protection for the Southwest

    Habitat restoration is vital. It ensures our infrastructure is protected via natural means, provides support to our local wildlife and ecosystems, and supports the planet through the continuation of our green spaces. What’s more, it allows developers to achieve their 10% Biodiversity Net Gain targets while also giving back to the community.

    At The Habitat Restoration Co., we provide the whole host of habitat restoration services for your project – all upheld to a professional standard, timely delivery, and with quality results. Get in touch today to find out more!

    Find out more about habitat considerations for wetlands with our guide to nutrient neutrality laws >