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 >

    How Nutrient Neutrality Laws Help to Protect Wetlands

    The health of our wetlands and water sources is vital.

    They support many forms of life and natural environments, and ensure we have access to clean water. In the UK, efforts to care for the environment have recently focused on nutrient neutrality and protecting critical natural areas.

    Our work at The Habitat Restoration Company revolves around protecting the natural environment, including our wetlands. In this article, we’ll explain what nutrient neutralist means, why it’s essential, where it applies, and how to achieve it.

    What are Nutrient Neutrality Laws?

    In the UK, nutrient neutrality laws help protect the environment by focusing on reducing the effects of human building on natural water. They concentrate on sensitive water, such as in wetlands. These laws ensure that new building projects don’t add unwanted nutrients to the environment which could lower water quality.

    The Role of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act

    The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act is crucial. It promotes nutrient neutrality as part of its environmental safeguards, providing thorough checks to minimise the environmental impact of new construction which must be passed before approval.
    The Act balances urban growth and protecting the environment. It ensures that community improvements align with sustainability and meet strict environmental rules, showing the government’s commitment to sustainable development.

    How does Nutrient Neutrality Protect Wetlands and Water Sources?

    Nutrient neutrality is all about stopping eutrophication. This happens when water areas get too many nutrients, which causes plants to grow too much. This excessive growth decreases the oxygen in the water, which is bad for fish and other water life.

    Preventing Eutrophication

    When nutrient-rich runoff from farms, cities, and industries enters the water, it can cause the number of algae and water plants to increase – using up oxygen in the water. Low oxygen can harm water ecosystems, killing fishing and causing harm to many types of wildlife. Nutrient neutrality aims to stop harmful substances from getting into sensitive ecosystems, keeping the natural balance and ensuring wetlands and water sources stay healthy.

    Supporting Biodiversity

    Wetlands are home to many plants and animals. They are also a vital natural feature that helps control floods, clean water, and store carbon. By applying nutrient neutrality rules, we can better protect these areas. This allows them to support many species vital for keeping ecosystems strong, which is of particular import with regards to the challenges and dangers of climate change.

    Which Local Authorities are Affected by Nutrient Neutrality?

    Nutrient neutrality laws matter most in places at risk of nutrient pollution. These places often have large water bodies and sensitive environments that need protection.

    Local authorities in areas like Hampshire and Herefordshire deal with higher-risk regions. These regions have many protected wetlands which they need to monitor, ensuring that new developments do not harm water quality. Local governments work closely with developers in these areas, preventing new projects from adding any more harmful nutrients to the environment.

    How to Achieve Nutrient Neutrality

    Detailed planning and teamwork among different groups are essential to achieve nutrient neutrality. Here are some strategies and methods that can be used:

    Strategic Planning and Assessment

    • Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): These are essential for determining how new building projects might affect local natural areas. They show how many nutrients might be added to the environment, alongside what actions are needed to prevent damage.
    • Nutrient Budgeting: This calculates the expected nutrients in an area, looking at both the nutrients coming in and going out. This information helps make better decisions about using land without harming the environment.

    Technological Solutions and Best Practices

    • Advanced Wastewater Treatment: This uses methods like biofiltration, special membranes in reactors, and advanced chemical processes to significantly lower the nutrients in wastewater before it goes back into nature.
    • Sustainable Agricultural Practices: These encourage farmers to use special fertilisers that release nutrients slowly. Farmers should also grow different crops and set up buffer zones around fields. These steps can stop nutrients from washing into rivers and lakes.

    Community and Stakeholder Engagement

    • Education and Awareness: Teaching people about the importance of nutrient control can help the community, supporting efforts to keep the environment healthy.
    • Working together: Collaboration between developers, environmental groups, local officials, and local people can create better and lasting ways to manage nutrients.

    Achieve Nutrient Neutrality with The Habitat Restoration Company

    Enforcing nutrient neutrality laws is critical. They protect the UK’s land and water from too much building and nutrient pollution. We can keep our lively and healthy natural environments by helping everyone understand these rules.

    To achieve nutrient neutrality, we need to work together, helping plant and animal life prosper for future generations. Keep this essential natural balance throughout your developments by working with The Habitat Restoration Company. For more information about how we can help, see our services or get in touch today!