Putting nature centre stage? The challenges of ‘mainstreaming’ biodiversity in the planning process

This article explores how international biodiversity commitments (Aichi targets) made in 2010 have been incorporated into spatial planning policy in England. The article analyses the moral, scientific and instrumental arguments underlying the Aichi targets and how they are reflected in the National Planning Policy Framework for England, together with views on the spatial planning approach to biodiversity expressed by local actors in spatial planning. The article concludes that biodiversity has been ‘mainstreamed’ in English spatial planning policy, but with spatial variations in policy approach between protected sites and the wider countryside and urban areas and with responsibility for biodiversity enhancement in the wider countryside and urban areas relying mainly on local policy and instrumental arguments that are likely to lead to tensions over the ‘replaceability’ of nature. The concept of connectivity is identified as key to a successful biodiversity strategy, but challenges to achieving connectivity in practice are identified.