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Conservation Covenants
Long-term legal protection for nature recovery
About conservation covenants
Securing biodiversity gains for the long term
Conservation covenants are voluntary, legally binding agreements between a landowner and a designated Responsible Body. They are used to secure conservation outcomes on land for the long term, including the habitat creation, enhancement and management needed to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain.
For offsite BNG, conservation covenants can help ensure that biodiversity gains are protected, monitored and managed for at least 30 years.
Many Better BNG partner organisations, or organisations within their wider networks, are designated Responsible Bodies. This means they can enter into conservation covenants with landowners, monitor delivery against the agreed conservation objectives, and help ensure that habitat gains are secured for nature over the long term.
Why NGOs
Why work with an NGO Responsible Body?
- Trusted conservation expertise: NGO Responsible Bodies bring ecological knowledge, local relationships and long-term conservation experience.
- Long-term accountability: They can monitor whether conservation commitments are being delivered and take action where needed.
- Better outcomes for nature: Covenants can be shaped around the needs of habitats, species and wider landscapes.
- Developer confidence: Working with a designated Responsible Body can help provide assurance that offsite BNG is legally secured and properly stewarded.
Contacts
Responsible Body contacts
The following contacts are placeholders for partner organisations to confirm and update:
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Plantlife
Email: conservationcovenants@plantlife.org.uk
Telephone: 01722 342 730
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The Wildlife Trusts
Arcadian Ecology & Consulting Limited
Part of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Email: Arcadian@hiwwt.org.uk
Telephone: 01489 774 400
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Email: Responsiblebody@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk or RB@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk
Telephone: 01539 816 315
Kent Wildlife Trust
Email: info@kentwildlife.org.uk or hello@adonisblue.org.uk
Telephone: 01622 357 800 or 01622 357 821
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Limited
Email: bionetgain@staffs-wildlife.org.uk
Telephone: 01889 880 100
SWT Ecology Services Ltd
Surrey Wildlife Trust
Email: ecologyservices@surreywt.org.uk
Telephone: 01483 795 465
Legal Notice: The NGOs are committed to operating in accordance with all applicable competition and antitrust laws. Participants must not exchange commercially sensitive information or engage in discussions that could restrict competition. Information shared is provided for general information purposes only, and members remain responsible for obtaining their own legal advice and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Legal Notice: The NGOs are committed to operating in accordance with all applicable competition and antitrust laws. Participants must not exchange commercially sensitive information or engage in discussions that could restrict competition. Information shared is provided for general information purposes only, and members remain responsible for obtaining their own legal advice and ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
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