The new version tool, launched in November, now benefits from integration with the Landscape Character Assessment database developed by the Landscape Institute
Natural England has launched the updated Environmental Benefits from Nature Tool (EBNT), with the tool now integrated with the Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) database developed by the Landscape Institute.
The EBNT is designed to work alongside the Statutory Biodiversity Metric Tool and provide developers, planners and other interested parties with a means of enabling wider benefits for people and nature from biodiversity net gain.
The integration of the LCA database means that landscape character will be considered earlier and more fully in the development process.
The Landscape Institute launched the LCA database in March 2023 to provide a single resource of landscape character data, for the benefit of landscape and environmental professionals. The database is an evolving resource, and has measures in place for periodic updates, future planning, and aspirations. A working group consisting of members of the LI, Natural England and private practice continue to work towards a searchable, spatial Geographic Information System (GIS) platform, with the ambition to add shapefiles.
Read more about the development of the Landscape Character Assessment database in the ‘Digital’ edition of Landscape, the Journal of the Landscape Institute
This long-standing collaboration with Natural England has already helped to facilitate the integration of the LCA database into Natural England’s National Character Area profiles website. Now, this integration also extends to the EBNT.
This represents an important step as the EBNT engages with the wider Environmental Net Gain agenda. Aiding cross-discipline collaboration to help green infrastructure planners maximize the multifunctionality of their projects, the EBNT spans Biodiversity Net Gain and Green Infrastructure data to generate an indicative and bespoke picture of change across 18 different ecosystem services over time and allow for a comparison of options.
The EBNT’s integration with the LCA database now means that landscape character will be included as a key criterion, informing decision making.
As we move into more digitally led platforms, these exciting developments as are intended to provide consistency and clarity in collaborative work, and to achieve better outcomes for landscape.
