Landowners who wish to manage their land for biodiversity can now receive long-term guaranteed funding for doing so, following the launch of pilot schemes in Warwickshire, Coventry & Solihull, Essex, Doncaster, Devon, Greater Norwich, and Nottinghamshire.

Following the release of the Government’s Natural Environment White Paper in June 2011, a series of nationally recognised pilot projects were set up to test biodiversity offsetting. An organisation called The Environment Bank is involved in a number of these pilots and is the only organisation set up specifically as a broker for biodiversity offsetting.

The Environment Bank describes biodiversity offsetting as ‘a new opportunity for landowners to receive a guaranteed long-term income stream in return for managing some or all of their land for wildlife – through selling 'conservation credits'. The scheme is entirely voluntary and the land management plan and payment rates are set by the landowner.

Louise Martland, WCS Biodiversity Offsetting Project Officer at the Environment Bank explains, "Whenever development occurs, land available for wildlife (biodiversity) is lost and needs to be compensated for. If sufficient compensation cannot be provided at the site of the development, then it may be 'offset' in a different place at a receptor site.

"Landowners who create or restore wildlife habitats can receive an income by selling 'conservation credits' to developers who need to offset their environmental impacts. Our role is to liaise with Local Planning Authorities who are incorporating offsetting into their planning process. We work with developers to ensure their impacts are calculated correctly and we work with landowners to identify sites that can provide the land needed for the offsets. We are developing projects throughout the UK where planners, landowners and developers are volunteering to test biodiversity offsetting."

Though the policy has come in for fierce criticism over fears it will lead to a commodification of natural processes and habitats, and potentially bestow upon developers a "licence to destroy", rural property agents Savills has supported the programme and the company is urging local farmers and landowners to get involved. Sophie Barrett of Savills comments, "Biodiversity offsetting could represent a good opportunity for landowners to receive payment for long term projects, which they already have in mind or offer an alternative for those looking to diversify on specific areas of land.

"The benefits are compelling. The landowner maintains control over the long-term management of the site, is guaranteed long term funding and retains access to and ownership of the land. Projects which fall within this scheme could include: woodland planting, woodland restoration, hedgerow planting, restoring wetlands and arable reversion.

"It is anticipated that biodiversity offsetting will be rolled out nationwide if the pilot schemes are successful so this may represent an opportunity for other areas in the future."