From Vision to Reality: A Practical GIS Approach to Biodiversity Net Gain

Last week I shared some thoughts on why GIS should be leading the way in Biodiversity Net Gain. In More than a Map: GIS Needs to Lead BNG, I painted a picture of a future where spatial data underpins everything from planning applications to long-term monitoring. This week, I want to show you how that future is already happening.

The Canal & River Trust looks after over 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales. With such a huge and diverse estate, keeping track of habitats and biodiversity is a real challenge. They needed a smarter way to manage their data. That is where EcoSpatial came in.

Together, we built a GIS system that helps the Trust see what habitats they have, where they are, and how they are changing. Using UKHab and the Defra Biodiversity Metric, we mapped more than 300,000 habitat features. We built an Ecological Data Hub with ArcGIS Experience Builder, so staff can explore habitat information by location, condition, and planning authority. Surveyors now use ArcGIS Field Maps to record habitat condition directly in the field, uploading results instantly. Dashboards and spatial tools give the Trust clear insight into opportunities for biodiversity improvements, potential BNG banking sites, and how connected their habitats are.

This kind of system is not just for big organisations. Landowners, estate managers, and conservation groups can all use GIS in the same way. It gives you a clear picture of your land, helps track changes over time, and supports better decisions about where to invest in nature. You can map and monitor habitats, understand ecological connectivity, link biodiversity data with estate records, and plan confidently if you want to register BNG sites or explore offsetting.

BNG is about space: what is there, what is changing, and what is improving. Too often GIS is treated as a side tool. The Canal & River Trust’s approach shows what is possible when GIS sits at the heart of the process. It is a model that works not only at national scale but also for estates and projects of every size.

This project was recently featured in the RICS Land Journal (https://ww3.rics.org/uk/en/journals/land-journal/canal-and-river-trust-surveys-habitats-bng.html), and we also shared it in a joint session with RICS and the Royal Geographical Society (https://www.rgs.org/events/talks-on-demand/using-gis-to-survey-habitats-and-measure-improvements-for-biodiversity-net-gain).

If you are managing land and want to explore how GIS could help deliver BNG more effectively, we would love to talk. At EcoSpatial we build tailored GIS platforms that turn biodiversity data into practical tools for planning, monitoring, and reporting. Whether you need baseline mapping, mobile surveys, or interactive dashboards, we can design a solution around your site and your goals. Get in touch or book a demo if you are curious, we are always happy to share what is possible: https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/9447a2c7d77d41019d1fb489a54775b5@ecospatialsolutions.com?anonymous&ismsaljsauthenabled&ep=pcard