Responsible body for conservation covenants
ADAS is a Defra-designated responsible body – enabling it to enter conservation covenants for biodiversity, archaeology or heritage.
What are conservation covenants?
As outlined in Chapter 7 of the Environment Act 2021, conservation covenants are legally binding agreements designed to secure long-term environmental or heritage outcomes. Made between a landowner and a designated responsible body, conservation covenants remain attached to the land, even if the landowner changes.
In 2025, Defra appointed ADAS as a responsible body. This designation allows us to enter conservation covenants to support clients with dedicated services.
Our conservation covenant services
As a responsible body, ADAS can:
- establish conservation covenants that legally secure environmental or heritage enhancements in perpetuity or for a defined term.
- provide long term monitoring and assurance, ensuring covenant obligations are maintained in line with statutory expectations.
- offer expert ecological and heritage advice, integrating covenant commitments with broader project objectives for better environmental, planning and development outcomes.
- support biodiversity net gain strategies using covenants to secure and evidence long term habitat improvements.
- advise landowners and developers on structuring covenant agreements that are practical, enforceable and aligned with regulatory requirements.
Ensuring successful outcomes
Supporting landowners with meeting conservation covenant obligations
To ensure success, landowners must be fully prepared for the long‑term legal commitments – and confident that these will fit with their farming operations if applicable.
ADAS has a long and established history in agricultural consultancy. Our practical approach and background in farm land management means we can design Conservation Covenant objectives that are flexible, realistic, and achievable for landowners involved.