Comment
Greater Cambridge Local Plan Preferred Options
Representation ID: 58767
Received: 13/12/2021
Respondent: Mr Jonathan Shanklin
Any biodiversity net gain calculations should be done by an accredited member of CIEEM. The calculations need to factor in that a “new” site will not support the same range of biodiversity as an old established site, even it is of greater area. A functioning ecosystem takes a long time to establish and much may be hidden, eg as fungal mycelia. To cover this a multiplicative factor, proportional to the age of the site being developed, should be used in any calculations for the proposed offsetting area.
Any biodiversity net gain calculations should be done by an accredited member of CIEEM. The calculations need to factor in that a “new” site will not support the same range of biodiversity as an old established site, even it is of greater area. A functioning ecosystem takes a long time to establish and much may be hidden, eg as fungal mycelia. To cover this a multiplicative factor, proportional to the age of the site being developed, should be used in any calculations for the proposed offsetting area.