Entec wins Defra biodiversity contract

Research investigating how local authorities (LAs) in England and Wales have fulfilled their new “biodiversity duty” will be undertaken by Entec. Defra has commissioned the consultancy to assess how LAs have incorporated the requirement “to have regard to conserving biodiversity” into their work. The requirement was included in the 2006 natural environment and rural communities act. Entec will produce an online questionnaire, conduct a telephone survey of 72 LAs and consult with NGOs working in the biodiversity field. The work will be completed by November, with output to include recommendations for strengthening implementation.