Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016

The Minister, the Environment Agency Head, the Biodiversity Conservation Trust and other public authorities may participate in the biodiversity offsets scheme, including by purchasing, holding, transferring and retiring biodiversity credits.

The regulations may make further provision for or with respect to the biodiversity offsets scheme, including making provision—

for the retirement of biodiversity credits, and

for arrangements between participants in the biodiversity offsets scheme or between those participants and other persons in connection with the scheme, and

for the resolution of disputes arising in connection with the operation of the scheme, and

for the provision of information by authorities or other persons involved in the administration or operation of the scheme.

The regulations may make provision for or with respect to conservation brokers, being persons who provide or offer to provide any of the following services (whether or not for fee or reward)—

the identification of potential biodiversity stewardship sites or management actions,

the negotiation of a biodiversity stewardship agreement on behalf of a land owner,

assistance with buying or selling biodiversity credits,

any other related service in connection with the biodiversity offsets scheme.

The regulations may—

provide for fees to be payable by a person to the Environment Agency Head for services provided to the person by the Environment Agency Head under the Act,

prescribe additional services, relating to any aspect of the biodiversity offsets scheme, that the Environment Agency Head may provide and for which the Environment Agency Head may charge fees,

prescribe the amount of, or the method for calculating the amount of, the fees.