Moved by
Lord Krebs
84A: Schedule 14, page 222, line 17, at end insert—
“(6) Within the period of six months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must produce or revise the biodiversity metric, having particular regard to the ecological importance of—
(a) diversity of habitat types and management approaches, including open mosaic habitat, scrubland, and habitats that mature slowly,
(b) the potential of individual sites to support rare, endangered and vulnerable species, and
(c) habitat connectivity across a landscape.
(7) The Secretary of State must review the biodiversity metric at least annually and revise it to take into account—
(a) any significant developments in scientific evidence, and
(b) any assessment of progress toward meeting targets set under Part 1 of the Environment Act 2021.”
Member’s explanatory statement
This amendment ensures that the Biodiversity Metric includes the ecological requirements of rare and endangered species, that it recognises the importance of habitat heterogeneity and connectedness, and that it is updated regularly in light of scientific evidence.