3 Reasons to Use a Biodiversity Credits Consultant
If you're planning a development project that is likely to have a negative environmental impact, then you might need to buy biodiversity credits to offset the damage. While you can manage this process yourself, it makes sense to use a specialist consultancy. What are the benefits of doing this?
1. Get Instant Expertise
The principle of biodiversity credits is simple — you essentially pay to offset any damage your development will have on its local environment, habitat and species. This money might be used on your site. Or, it might be used to preserve other sites.
The actual process of working out whether you need to pay for these credits and how much you have to pay isn't that simple, however. This can be a complex process. You need to understand the exact impacts of your project in environmental and ecological terms.
You might not have the depth of knowledge and experience to do this. If you hire a biodiversity credits consultant, then you can tap into their expertise. They can assess the impact of your development and give you details of how this might affect your credits obligations.
2. Get Help With Your Planning Applications
If your project will have a local environmental impact, then the planning process won't be straightforward. You might need to supply various reports outlining your biodiversity impact and plans. If you don't do this, then your planning applications might not go through.
While you can reapply once you have the correct information, this will hold up your project. A biodiversity credits consultant can help you provide all the information you need in the right format. They help you create certified reports. Your planning application is more likely to go through quickly and on the first pass.
3. Find the Cheapest Biodiversity Credits Costs
While you might be happy to pay to mitigate the impact of your development, you won't want to spend any more money than you need to. However, you might not be sure how to cover your credit costs.
For example, you can find and buy credits that would apply to your situation. Or, you can put your allocated sum into the official Biodiversity Conservation Trust. In some cases, you can offset your costs by setting up a conservation project as part of your development that protects the local habitat or a local species from harm.
The costs of these options can vary, and it isn't always easy to find the right kinds of credits that match your needs. A consultancy can help you source and choose the easiest and most cost-effective option.
To find out more, contact biodiversity credits consultants and ask them for advice on your project.