The Environmental Targets (Biodiversity) (England) Regulations 2023

Measurement of the habitat restoration or creation target

8.—(1) In order to measure the area of wildlife-rich habitat which is restored or created, the Secretary of State must obtain information about action that has been or is being undertaken in order to restore or create the wildlife-rich habitat on or after the day on which these Regulations come into force, including information about—

(a) the location of the action;

(b) the size of the area intended to become wildlife-rich habitat;

(c) the type of wildlife-rich habitat that is being restored or created.

(2) The Secretary of State must keep a record of the information obtained under paragraph (1).

(3) For the purposes of this Part, habitat is restored or will be restored when appropriate action has been or is being taken to improve the condition of relict or degraded habitat which might reasonably be expected to lead to an expansion of the wildlife-rich habitat there, but excluding such action taken—

(a) on protected sites; or

(b) for the purpose of replacing habitat that has been lost on or after the day these Regulations come into force.

(4) For the purposes of this Part, habitat is created or will be created when appropriate action has been or is being taken to establish wildlife-rich habitat on land, or water, excluding such action taken—

(a) on protected sites; or

(b) for the purpose of replacing habitat that has been lost on or after the day these Regulations come into force.

(5) In paragraphs (3) and (4) “appropriate action” includes action—

(a) to develop one or more specific wildlife-rich habitat types; or

(b) to allow a dynamic mosaic of wildlife-rich habitats to develop through the restoration of natural processes and ecosystems.