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Biodiversity Audits Explained

The听Whole Farm Plan听(WFP)听biodiversity audit听requires farmers and crofters to听identify听the biodiversity on their farm or croft by creating a habitat map of all the land that they manage on a permanent basis, identifying specific habitats听e.g. cropped land, wetland and woodland听and linear features that are present on their farms and crofts.听Many farmers and crofters have prioritised completion of听carbon听audits as part of the WFP听requirements as grant funding was available under Preparing for Sustainable Farming (PSF) for this, however by 15 May 2028, all farmers and crofters听are required to听have a听biodiversity audit听completed.听

听What is a听Biodiversity Audit?听

The听biodiversity audit听is one of the five elements of the WFP听as a condition for the receipt of Basic Payment Scheme听(BPS)听subsidy. It is one of two WFP elements (the other being the听carbon听audit) that all farmers with permanent land will have to have in place by 2028. The other three elements; animal health听and听welfare plan, soil analysis and听integrated听pest management plan will depend on听the farming system.听听

Those who听haven鈥檛听yet听completed a听biodiversity audit听will need to complete one in time for the 2028 BPS claim deadline.听

The听biodiversity audit听is听essentially a听map of habitats on the farm, using a听听grouped into broad categories such as woodlands, grasslands, cropped land, upland and peatlands, which are then split into more specific categories such as natural woodland, conifer plantation, improved听grassland听and unimproved grassland. Linear features such as drystone dykes, hedges and rivers and streams are also mapped. There is information to help听identify听these habitats听on the听, including a series of听.听If you have an听Agri-Environment Climate Scheme听(AECS)听application from 2024 or earlier, the听farm听environmental听assessment map will听contain听some, but not all, of the information听required. From 2025 onwards, the听AECS听farm听environmental听assessment and the听biodiversity audit听map are the same thing.听

As a minimum, farmers and crofters must:听

• Create a听habitat听map which covers all land managed on a permanent basis.听
• Allocate at least one habitat category which best describes most of the land cover for each land parcel/field, using the Whole Farm Plan听habitat and听feature听key听as detailed below.听
• Include any linear features such as hedges, line of trees, drystone dykes and rivers and streams (that are not visible on听ordnance听survey mapping).听

For an intensively managed farm where most fields are improved grassland or arable, the map can therefore be quite simple.听More detail can be added by splitting land parcels into different habitats where this听occurs. Though not mandatory, this is encouraged as it will highlight small areas of natural habitat听that could be important refuges for biodiversity听in otherwise intensively managed fields. It is particularly useful if the听biodiversity audit听is going to be used to support an听AECS听application.听

How to Complete the听Biodiversity听Audit听

There are several ways in which the听biodiversity audit听can be prepared. At听a very simple听level, a list of fields can be marked with the dominant habitat in each field and听submitted听to the Rural Payments land mapping team. This听option听is only听appropriate if听there are no linear or boundary features to map. In other听situations,听a map will have to be drawn. This can听be done manually听by听hand colouring听a map according to the habitat key, digitally using mapping software, or online using the Rural Payments mapping system. There is also a听听developed by NatureScot that can be used to prepare the map.听While farmers and crofters are encouraged to prepare their own听biodiversity audits, it is possible to use a consultant to help prepare them if necessary.听

Whatever method is used to prepare the map, it is important to note that this is the only element of the Whole Farm Plan that听must听be听submitted听along with the Single Application Form (all the other elements simply need to be available for听inspection). If the听biodiversity audit听has not been created using the Rural Payments听online听mapping system, the map must be sent to the RPID Land Mapping Team. Once听submitted, the audit is valid for five years, after which it must be reviewed and updated if听required. It is also possible to update it at shorter intervals.听

Unfortunately, there is no specific funding to support the preparation of听biodiversity audits. However, the funding for听听(currently听temporarily suspended) can be used听to get听assistance听with preparing the听audit, alongside recommendations for habitat management.听This听may be听worthwhile for those with a particular interest in managing biodiversity on their farm听but听is not recommended for those with simple farm habitats just听seeking听to meet the regulatory requirements of the听biodiversity audit.听

Five Top Tips听

1. You will need to have a听biodiversity audit听map听in place by听15听May 2028.听
2. As a minimum,听allocate听at least one habitat category which best describes听the main habitat present听and include听any linear features such as hedges.听
3. Use one of the five ways to complete the听biodiversity audit听as listed on the听听听
4. The听Biodiversity听Map must be reviewed and updated at least once every five years. However, it is recommended that it is updated as听required听to reflect any changes within that period.听
5. For further information on completing your听biodiversity audit听map,听please听visit the听听听

Paul Chapman, Senior Conservation Consultant, Paul.Chapman@sac.co.uk

Posted by SAC Consulting on 19/02/2026