Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. As well as having intrinsic value, biodiversity provides benefits to people and is essential for the healthy functioning of ecosystems, on which we depend for the maintenance of a habitable planet. Halting the continuing loss of biodiversity globally is one of the greatest environmental problems we face. The importance of conserving biodiversity is recognised by policies and strategies at the national, EU and global levels.
ICF GHK has helped to inform the delivery of these initiatives through variety of policy appraisals, evaluations and economic analyses. We are expert in:
- Assessments of the costs of biodiversity action plans, including financial and opportunity costs;
- Appraisal of policies to offset the impact of development on biodiversity;
- Analysis and evaluation of financial and economic instruments for biodiversity;
- Valuation of biodiversity and its benefits;
- Assessment and valuation of ecosystem services;
- Appraisal of the impact of the CAP and other policies on biodiversity;
- Analysis of green infrastructure strategies and their environmental and economic benefits;
- Development of guidance for public bodies regarding their duties with regard to biodiversity conservation;
- Analysis of the economic, employment and social impacts of conservation actions.
Our experience covers a wide range of policies and issues in the UK, EU and globally, with particular studies relating to the appraisal and development of:
- Biodiversity Action Plans (in the UK, EU and UK Overseas Territories and globally)
- Protected Areas (including the EU Natura 2000 network and Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the UK)
- Agri-environment programmes (including Environmental Stewardship in England)
- EU financial instruments (including LIFE+ and the Common Agricultural Policy)
- Global biodiversity conservation policies and international agreements (including the Nagoya Protocol, a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity).