The Environmental Benefits from Nature Tool works with Biodiversity Net Gain and alongside the Green Infrastructure Framework to maximise multifunctional land use and deliver gains for people and nature.

What is the Environmental Benefits from Nature Tool?

The tool aims to help users better understand the impact of proposed land use change on the services nature provides within their project area. It encourages positive change through improved consideration of nature-based services in project design and may be used to start a broader conversation (about local needs, impacts, priorities and opportunities) to help deliver the right gains in the right places.

The tool highlights the projected impact of proposed changes across 18 different ecosystem services (ranging from flood management, to cooling and shading, air quality and recreation) and displays impact over a 30-year period, highlighting the benefits that can be achieved as new habitats establish.

Using the Environmental Benefits from Nature Tool

To get started users should download a copy of the tool and accompanying documents from the Natural England Access to evidence website.

Users then require:

Users can then complete an Environmental Benefits from Nature spreadsheet for their project. Doing so allows users to:

Case study download: Using the Environmental Benefits for Nature tool to support a green infrastructure plan

Opportunity Kensington case study

Case study download: Using the Environmental Benefits for Nature tool to enhance school benefits through green infrastructure

Department for Education case study

Getting started

Watch this 18 minute video with high-level guidance on how to complete the Environmental Benefits from Nature Tool for a small and simple site.

Background to the EBNT and update functionality

Watch this 1 hour deep dive video, covering background to the Environmental Benefits from Nature Tool, what it does, who it is for and how, why, where and when to use it. The video also contains a summary of the latest functionality and benefits to users.