Introducing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) to the Netherlands
Interview with Peter C.T. Philipsen on the start of BNG(Biodiversity Net Gain) in The Netherlands:
Tell us about how and why you felt it was a good idea to introduce the UK’s BNG to be used in The Netherlands?
I, through my position and work for Nature-At-Work Consultancy, had already introduced the RoadMap for fishmigration to the UK from the Netherlands, where I first came up with the concept, and where it was first implemented. See the story and video on this website. But I also share knowledge or implementation of positive nature restoration ideas the other way around when it is appropriate; so knowledge from the UK to share in The Netherlands for the good of the environment. So I came up with the idea to see if the UK’s succesful use of BNG(Biodiversity Net Gain) was possible and also a good idea to be used in The Netherlands. So knowledge exchange and helping one another to improve or preserve nature is necessary to accomplish this and is my passion.
So how did you start?
I knew and was already involved with projects that use the BNG concept in the UK. Nature-At-Work consultancy is active in the UK and in The Netherlands, and Internationally. So, I saw that BNG is a marvellous concept. In 2024 I came in contact with a business in the UK through a friend and collegue from the Environment Agency in the UK. This business; Spains Hall Estate, uses BNG in practice.
I was at that time and still am also involved in The Netherlands with a governmental owned environmental collective group called; Collectief Natuur Inclusief. In this collective group there are several domains represented working together to improve nature. And I am domain lead for ‘Water’. But I was totally impressed by what I saw how BNG worked in the UK and decided to introduce it to my collegues at the Collectief Natuur Inclusief group in the Netherlands.
How did it develop after that initial idea?
Together with Spains Hall Estate I organised a small 1st knowledge exchange event. Where we as Natuur Inclusief Collectief shared some of our succes stories in The Netherlands that might be good for use in the UK. And our english collegues shared some of their success stories including how BNG is done in practice in the UK. They were shown also through a field trip how it works in practice. See photo’s.
After that event other events on introducing BNG in The Netherlands followed. One was held at Triodos bank in The Netherlands. See the video on that here. And after that Triodos Bank event I organized a 2nd event knowledge exchange event at Hilton Hotel in Syon Park London. See the video here, Click here for: Kennisbijeenkomst Biodiversity Net Gain – De Natuurverdubbelaars:
These events got many enthousiastic especially within the Collectief Natuur Inclusief group in The Netherlands. Some of the domains in this collective were present at both events organized in the UK by me. They supported me to make it a success.
I can gladly report that now also in The Netherlands, BNG has become a concept that will be used for the betterment of Nature and the environment. That is what it is all about. And Nature-At-Work Consultancy has played a pivotal role in that just as it was in the case of the Roadmap for fishmigration. I am very proud that my hope and wish for BNG to also be used in The Netherlands is now being realized and is called in The Netherlands; ‘Netto Natuur Winst’.
Introducing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) to the Netherlands
Interview with Peter C.T. Philipsen on the start of BNG(Biodiversity Net Gain) in The Netherlands:
Tell us about how and why you felt it was a good idea to introduce the UK’s BNG to be used in The Netherlands? I, through my position and work for Nature-At-Work Consultancy, had already introduced the RoadMap for fishmigration to the UK from the Netherlands, where I first came up with the concept, and where it was first implemented. See the story and video on this website. But I also share knowledge or implementation of positive nature restoration ideas the other way around when it is appropriate; so knowledge from the UK to share in The Netherlands for the good of the environment. So I came up with the idea to see if the UK’s succesful use of BNG(Biodiversity Net Gain) was possible and also a good idea to be used in The Netherlands. So knowledge exchange and helping one another to improve or preserve nature is necessary to accomplish this and is my passion.So how did you start?
I knew and was already involved with projects that use the BNG concept in the UK. Nature-At-Work consultancy is active in the UK and in The Netherlands, and Internationally. So, I saw that BNG is a marvellous concept. In 2024 I came in contact with a business in the UK through a friend and collegue from the Environment Agency in the UK. This business; Spains Hall Estate, uses BNG in practice.
I was at that time and still am also involved in The Netherlands with a governmental owned environmental collective group called; Collectief Natuur Inclusief. In this collective group there are several domains represented working together to improve nature. And I am domain lead for ‘Water’. But I was totally impressed by what I saw how BNG worked in the UK and decided to introduce it to my collegues at the Collectief Natuur Inclusief group in the Netherlands.How did it develop after that initial idea?
Together with Spains Hall Estate I organised a small 1st knowledge exchange event. Where we as Natuur Inclusief Collectief shared some of our succes stories in The Netherlands that might be good for use in the UK. And our english collegues shared some of their success stories including how BNG is done in practice in the UK. They were shown also through a field trip how it works in practice. See photo’s.
After that event other events on introducing BNG in The Netherlands followed. One was held at Triodos bank in The Netherlands. See the video on that here. And after that Triodos Bank event I organized a 2nd event knowledge exchange event at Hilton Hotel in Syon Park London. See the video here, Click here for: Kennisbijeenkomst Biodiversity Net Gain – De Natuurverdubbelaars:
These events got many enthousiastic especially within the Collectief Natuur Inclusief group in The Netherlands. Some of the domains in this collective were present at both events organized in the UK by me. They supported me to make it a success. I can gladly report that now also in The Netherlands, BNG has become a concept that will be used for the betterment of Nature and the environment. That is what it is all about. And Nature-At-Work Consultancy has played a pivotal role in that just as it was in the case of the Roadmap for fishmigration. I am very proud that my hope and wish for BNG to also be used in The Netherlands is now being realized and is called in The Netherlands; ‘Netto Natuur Winst’.