This Practice Note looks at policy and legislation relevant to biodiversity. It considers: • policy framework, including: ◦ the 25-Year Environment Plan (25 YEP) and the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 (EIP 2025) ◦ Green Infrastructure Framework (GIF) ◦ Nature Recovery Network ◦ natural capital approach ◦ environmental land management (ELM) ◦ Land Use Framework for England ◦ National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) ◦ Natural England’s (NE) Strategy: Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security • legislative framework, including: ◦ an overview of legislative framework ◦ the Environment Act 2021 (EA 2021) ◦ environmental targets under EA 2021 ◦ environmental principles under EA 2021 ◦ powers to reform the Habitats Regulations ◦ biodiversity duty ◦ the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023) ◦ the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Act 2026 • other UK biodiversity initiatives, reports and policies, including: ◦ Environment Audit Committee inquiry into protecting and enhancing UK biodiversity ◦ ecosystem services, the ecosystem approach and the role of biodiversity in achieving ‘Net Zero’

What is bioenergy? Bioenergy is the conversion of biomass into useful energy carriers including heat, electricity and transport fuels. Bioenergy can be implemented at a small, medium and large scale, so it is applicable to a wide variety of resources and processing/utilisation schemes. Article 2 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (the Renewable Energy Directive, RED II) contains the following key definitions relating to bioenergy: • energy from renewable sources or renewable energy means energy from renewable non-fossil sources, namely wind, solar (solar thermal and solar photovoltaic) and geothermal energy, osmotic energy, ambient energy, tide, wave and other ocean energy, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas, and biogas • renewable fuels means biofuels, bioliquids, biomass fuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin, which in turn are defined as follows: ◦ biomass—the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues from biological origin from agriculture, including vegetal and animal substances, from forestry and related industries, including fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the biodegradable fraction of waste, including industrial and municipal waste of biological origin ◦ biofuels—liquid

Two medicinal products containing the same active substance are considered bioequivalent if they are pharmaceutically equivalent or pharmaceutical alternatives and their bioavailabilities (rate and extent) after administration in the same molar dose lie within acceptable predefined limits.

Biofuels are a means to reduce dependency on fossil fuels, by providing a renewable and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels for combustion engines. They may either be used as a true alternative to fossil fuels, or as a 'blend' mixed with conventional fossil fuels. Biofuels are liquid or gaseous transport fuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol which are made from biomass.

This is a mass of absorbing material which is placed around a reactor or radioactive source in order to reduce the radiation to a level safe for humans.

What is biomass combined heat and power? A biomass combined heat and power (CHP) system is an engine designed to generate energy using biomass. CHP is effectively a small-scale power station with heat reclamation and minimal distribution losses due to its close proximity to the load. In this way it offers the potential for considerably improved generation efficiency with implicit carbon and cost savings benefits. The plants can achieve a total efficiency of 80–90%, whereas in conventional condensing power plants the efficiency in electricity production remains around 40%. Figure 1—schematic of a biomass CHP system (source: WSP) The use of biomass, rather than natural gas, the most commonly used fuel type in conventional CHP, translates the energy generated from merely sustainable to being renewable energy. Key conditions for development When determining the feasibility of biomass CHP all the different technology options need careful consideration. Systems need to be precisely specified based on the ratio and extent of heat and power requirements. The biomass fuel type being used also needs to be taken into account as

Biomass fuel Biomass is a generic term for organic material derived from plants or plant derived materials used to produce heat, electricity or transport fuel and is regarded as being less carbon-intensive than fossil fuels. Biomass as a fuel for power/heat generation projects involves using biological material from, for example: • waste and clean/recycled wood, eg forestry residues, landscaping remains and wood chips.(waste wood is graded A, B C and D by reference to the Wood Recyclers Association grading table: Grade A – pre-consumer waste wood and wood packaging (clean/untreated), Grade B – Industrial waste wood – (treated/non-hazardous), Grade C – Municipal Waste Wood – Treated/non-hazardous; and Grade D – Hazardous waste wood • specifically grown energy crops that are grown to be converted into energy, including maize, grass, miscanthus (elephant grass) • residues from forestry/agriculture To be economically viable, the developer of a generation plant using biomass as its principle fuel source should have in place one or more reliable biomass fuel supply agreements. Exclusivity of supply can assist with viability of a biomass generation facility.

Scope This Practice Note considers the technical, environmental and economic aspects of biomass heating. For a consideration of biomass combined heat and power, see Practice Note: Combined heat and power—technology. What is biomass heating? Biomass heating is the combustion of organic (non-fossil) material to generate heat. In theory there are many potential fuel sources, including: • animal dung • domestic and industrial waste • biodiesel, and • wood Biomass heating is considered very low carbon and is considered a major part of the UK’s plans to reduce carbon emissions. The focus of this note is on commercial scale technologies used commonly in the UK using biomass in the form of wood chips or pellets, but most information will also be applicable to domestic situations. Wood chips and pellets are two common types of biomass fuel. • Wood pellets—are manufactured from sawdust in a cylindrical shape and have higher levels of consistency than wood chips. Wood pellets are more compact and easier to handle. Another major benefit of wood pellets is that their greater energy density means that

What is a Biometric Immigration Document? A Biometric Immigration Document (BID) is the key ‘document’ that enables the holder to evidence their biometric and biographical information, immigration status, any conditions of stay, and entitlement to public funds in the UK. It can also confirm the holder’s national insurance number (for persons on Worker routes) and chargeable status for NHS treatment. Further to the transition to digital status, all BIDs are now issued in electronic form as an eVisa. An eVisa is an electronic record of status. The holder must have an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account in order for them and authorised third parties to be able to access their eVisa. A person can access their eVisa, once they have a UKVI account, using the view and prove immigration status link on GOV.UK. When their leave expires or is cancelled, this link will no longer be accessible. Third parties such as employers and landlords can also be granted access to view a person status via a ‘share code’. Until 31 October 2024 many

A physical document issued to a migrant by the Home Office containing the holder’s biometric and biographical information. It also confirms details of their right to reside, study or work in the UK and of their entitlement to public services or benefits. Abbreviated to BRP.

What is biometric excuse or predetermination? Where an applicant is unable to travel to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) due to the journey being dangerous or impossible, they can request biometric pre-determination or biometric excuse. Biometric pre-determination is a request for the application to be considered prior to biometric enrolment. If the application is determined positively, the applicant will be required to attend a VAC to enrol their biometrics before entering the UK. If the applicant requests Biometric excuse and it is positively decided, the applicant will be allowed to enter the UK and will be expected to enrol their biometrics after entry. For more information on application processes see Practice Note: Procedure for applying from overseas. Procedure After submitting their substantive immigration application, applicants will need to submit an online request to Contact UKVI which, at the time of writing attracts a small fee. They will need to provide their Global Web Form (GWF) number attached to the application/s, their names, dates of births, contact details and a brief

A card or sticker or any other method of recording information about a person's external physical characteristics.