Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM)

The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill is currently significantly flawed and needs an urgent rethink. It threatens to cause unnecessary and irreparable ecological harm while simultaneously imposing additional costs, uncertainty and delays on developers due to the uncertainty around the nature and scope of the proposed Environmental Delivery Plans. Read our full response to the Bill here: https://lnkd.in/gAyfWuFQ   Members of Parliament will be debating the Bill at its second reading on 24 March. CIEEM encourages you to engage with your local Member of Parliament (MP) ahead of this debate to highlight the flaws in the Bill. Find out how to do this here: https://lnkd.in/ev9bAvmr

Bookings are still open for our Q&A panel event promoting collaboration between ecologists, planning officers, and consultants in the Forest of Dean. Organised by the South West CIEEM member network and Forest of Dean District Council, this event will focus on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and planning requirements to ensure high-quality, biodiversity-driven development. This is an in-person event. A virtual/ remote video option will be made available to allow the event to be observed. Panelists Include: - Julian Arthur, Tyler Grange - Caroline Lidgett Lead Biodiversity Officer, FoDCC - Suzanne Hares, Senior Planning Officer, FoDDC - Hannah Ramsey, Senior Planning Officer, FoDCC - Katie Rees, Senior District Licensing Officer, Gloucestershire- Paul Stephen, Operations Manager, NatureSpace We aim to expand this initiative across districts, fostering collaboration and better outcomes for biodiversity and development. Book your space now: https://lnkd.in/eSKkme9b Carly Goodman-Smith

We are now inviting submissions for presentations for our upcoming Scotland conference 'Source to Sea: Working Across Landscapes.' This conference will explore the interconnectedness of lochs, rivers, oceans and their contributing watersheds/catchments, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches to managing these ecosystems holistically. We invite presentation and workshop proposals addressing the following themes: 1. Examples of strategic landscape and catchment-scale solutions. 2. Integrating terrestrial, freshwater and marine planning. 3. Nature finance and natural capital accounting. To submit a presentation, click here: https://lnkd.in/eUA5aK_A #SourcetoSea2025

We're looking forward to hearing from Kim De Rijck from the European Commission - DG Environment, at our Ireland Conference in April. Kim is a policy officer for biodiversity and nature restoration in the Directorate-General for Environment of the European Commission. She will talk us through the Nature Restoration Regulation: State of Play and next steps and opportunities for Member States, the European Commission and stakeholders. This conference is booking up fast, there are now limited spaces remaining. Book now👉 https://lnkd.in/gsPCqxWN

Introducing Our Latest Training Course Offer! This is the very first package deal for training courses at CIEEM. Our Botanical Skills for Ecologists training package is led by Mark Duffell, a highly respected and experienced CIEEM trainer. This exceptional package includes four full days of in-person botanical training, specifically designed for trainees, apprentices, and those early in their career. All of this is available for just £500 – a saving of over £300 compared to booking each course separately. Given the significant saving, spaces are expected to fill up quickly, so we encourage you to act fast. To secure your place on all four courses, please contact training@cieem.net to check availability and finalise your booking.

Yesterday, several CIEEM team members visited Wild Woodbury in Bere Regis, Dorset, to learn about a project aimed at transforming land from intensive farming into a large-scale rewilding initiative for nature recovery. It was a great morning, with valuable insights from the passionate team behind the project ... and a chance to meet some very friendly pigs. Dorset Wildlife Trust Rewilding Britain Kelly Hunt

Join us for an exclusive workshop the day prior to our Ireland Conference. The day before the conference, we are hosting a workshop featuring a distinguished panel of experts who will explore the vital role of biodiversity metrics in nature restoration efforts across Ireland. This is a unique opportunity to engage with industry leaders, gain valuable insights, and contribute to shaping the future of biodiversity conservation. Book your space now: https://lnkd.in/gyEvtZXU

The Call for Papers are now open for the Wales conference! CIEEM is inviting ecologists, environmental professionals, planners, researchers, and policymakers to submit abstracts for our upcoming conference, ‘Revitalising Derelict Spaces: Sustainable Land Redevelopment and Biodiversity in Wales'. This event will explore innovative strategies, emerging trends, and sustainable practices for transforming previously developed land sites into vibrant, biodiverse, and resilient spaces that benefit both people and nature. Want to submit a presentation? Submit now: https://lnkd.in/eSREdUZy #RevitalisingDerelictSpaces2025

The South West CIEEM member network, in collaboration with the Forest of Dean District Council, is running a question and answer panel event on 7 April! This event aims to bring together ecologists working within the council, planning officers and consultant ecologists to help drive more collaboration and quality within our industry. The focus topics of this initial event will be “BNG” and “What is needed for planning?”. Ultimately we hope to drive the facilitation of high-quality developments that deliver genuine benefits for biodiversity within the district through improved collaboration and engagement. Featuring Julian Arthur, Director at Tyler Grange and Caroline Lidgett, Lead Biodiversity Officer at FoDCC along with other panellists, this event is set to be a great opportunity for discussion. Book a space now: https://lnkd.in/eSKkme9b

It’s been a turbulent week for the ecology and environment sector, and we’re pleased that our Spring Conference provided an opportunity for practitioners to reflect on the first year of mandatory BNG, and share lessons learned. We’re very grateful to presenters and delegates for your insight, and for your positivity in the face of current uncertainty. If you're interested in purchasing the recording of the conference, please contact training@cieem.net