23 October 2025 – New guidance designed to help ensure that development projects protect, preserve, and enhance biodiversity worldwide has been published by BSI.
Biodiversity: Process for designing and implementing biodiversity net gain in development projects (ISO 17620) aims to provide clear, practical frameworks to reverse biodiversity loss and promote sustainable development across sectors and geographies. The standard, which has been published by BSI in its capacity as the UK national standards body, consolidates previous frameworks into a single, transparent process.
It has been released alongside a standard aimed at helping organizations support biodiversity goals, Biodiversity: Considering biodiversity in the strategy and operations of organizations — Requirements and guidelines (ISO 17298). Biodiversity, the rich variety of life including plants, animals, fungi, and micro-organisms is critical to sustaining ecosystems and the well-being of humanity. However, global biodiversity is under increasing threat due to human activities, affecting natural habitats, economies, and communities. In fact, global wildlife populations have declined by an average of 69% to 73% since 1970.
ISO 17620 offers a comprehensive process for designing and implementing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in projects of any size or type, from individual housing developments to major infrastructure initiatives. BNG ensures that biodiversity is left in a measurably better state after development, moving beyond harm minimization to delivering positive, long-term ecological outcomes.
This global standard consolidates previous frameworks into a single, transparent process that supports developers, land managers, auditors, conservation organizations, and investors alike. By providing requirements at every project stage, from preparation and design to implementation, maintenance, and monitoring, ISO 17620 fosters consistency, integrity, and accountability in biodiversity outcomes.
In April, new rules requiring developers in England to deliver a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain came into effect, following their inclusion in the Environment Act 2021. As of November, the requirement will apply to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
The standard aligns with legislation such as the Environment Act and supports emerging nature markets, providing confidence to regulators, planning authorities, and businesses engaged in biodiversity-positive development.
BSI is also publishing ISO 17298, the first international standard tailored to help organizations of all sectors and sizes embed biodiversity considerations into their strategic planning and operations. It offers a practical, scalable framework for assessing biodiversity-related impacts, dependencies, and risks, and turning these insights into actionable biodiversity strategies.
ISO 17298 is designed to support compliance with global biodiversity goals such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, by helping organizations improve transparency, reduce risks related to nature degradation, and unlock opportunities in innovation, green finance, and sustainable business.
This standard is applicable globally and adaptable for small and large organizations, including public institutions and SMEs, and provides interoperability with other major standards such as Environmental Management System (EMS) (14001) and Guidance on Social Responsibility (26000).
David Fatscher, Head of Standards Development, BSI, said “Biodiversity loss is a significant global challenge and one that all of us across society have a responsibility to act on, from developers to organizations in general. The launch of these two standards marks a pivotal step forward in global efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, as they provide practical, science-based frameworks designed to empower biodiversity preservation.
“By fostering transparency, consistency, and accountability, the hope is that these standards can not only help protect the natural world but also unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth and innovation. As biodiversity continues to face unprecedented threats, these tools have the potential to support governments, businesses, and communities striving to create a nature-positive future."
Tom Butterworth, Nature Lead at Arup, commented: "The introduction of ISO 17298 and ISO 17620 paves the way forward in how organisations approach biodiversity across the globe. For various industry sectors, these standards provide the clarity and structure needed to take action, and embed nature into strategy, operations and development.
"It was an honour to lead the work on the development of the ISO Biodiversity Net Gain standard and always inspiring to work with so many talented people. I believe these standards will help us all deliver nature-positive outcomes."
Both standards are the result of extensive international collaboration involving experts from countries including the UK, Japan, China, Brazil, Canada, Germany, and France. Led by UK project leaders, these standards embody global consensus on biodiversity best practices.
