Biodiversity Duty

The Environment Act 2021 introduced a strengthened biodiversity duty which requires all public authorities in England to consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.  All public authorities have been under this enhanced duty since the 1st January 2023.

Defra guidance on complying with the duty was published in May 2023.

The actions that Dover District Council takes for biodiversity will contribute to the achievement of national goals and targets on biodiversity. The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23), published in January 2023 sets out Government’s plans for improving the natural environment.

By 2030, the Government has committed to halt the decline in species abundance; and to protect 30% of UK land to support the recovery of nature.

By 2042, the Government has committed to:

• Increase species abundance by at least 10% from 2023
• Restore or create at least 500,000 hectares of a range of wildlife rich habitats
• Reduce the risk of species extinction; and
• Restore 75% hectares of protected sites for habitats and species to thrive

 In order to meet the Biodiversity Duty Dover District Council must:

• Consider what we can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity. This is known as the “first consideration”.
• Agree policies and specific objectives based on that consideration
• Act to deliver the policies and achieve these objectives and report on them
• Reconsider/review those actions at least every five years

First consideration

The council has completed its first consideration of the Biodiversity Duty and has identified objectives and initial actions to comply with the Biodiversity Duty.  These are summarised here.  

First Reporting Period: Policy and objectives

By January 2026, at the end of the first reporting period, the Council will review policies, objectives and actions set to meet the biodiversity duty.  These objectives and actions will have regard to the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and any relevant species conservation strategies.

Reporting of actions

The council is required to report on the actions taken to conserve and enhance biodiversity, achievements resulting from our actions, and proposed future actions. The report will include information on the following:

• Biodiversity Net Gain
• The Kent and Medway Local Nature Recovery Strategy
• The Green Infrastructure Strategy.

The first Biodiversity Report is required to be published no later than 1st January 2026, and then every five years (at most) after that.