Guidance

Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment privacy notice

Updated 13 November 2024

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2024

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected].

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/natural-england-privacy-notices/natural-capital-and-ecosystem-assessment-privacy-notice

The Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) is an England-wide programme involving several Defra group organisations. Its purpose is to assess and describe the extent and condition of England’s biodiversity, ecosystems and natural capital assets.

Who collects your personal data

The data controller is Natural England at:

Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green, York, Y01 7PX

Send questions about how Natural England uses your personal data and your associated rights to the Natural England Data Protection Manager at [email protected] or:

Natural England, County Hall, Spetchley Road, Worcester, WR5 2NP

The Data Protection Officer for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) group is responsible for checking that Natural England complies with legislation. You can contact them at [email protected] or:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, SW Quarter, 2nd floor, Seacole Block, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

What personal data’s collected and how it’s used

Natural England may collect your:

  • name
  • contact details
  • relationship to the land being surveyed, for example whether you’re an owner or tenant

Natural England uses this data to:

  • contact you about NCEA citizen science projects you’ve signed up to
  • request permission to access land to carry out surveys for NCEA projects

Natural England may also collect your views or opinions. It uses this data to inform and evaluate its work and to help assess England’s biodiversity, ecosystems and natural capital assets.

Natural England may sometimes ask for more sensitive personal information, such as your:

  • gender
  • race and ethnicity

It uses this data to better understand the relationship between socio-economic factors and the environment and to identify barriers to engagement with nature.

Processing your data is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.

The task is carrying out NCEA survey activity to assess and describe the extent and condition of England’s biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural capital assets.

The legal basis for processing your views and opinions and sensitive personal information is consent.

Where the processing of your data is not based on consent, you cannot withdraw it. However, you have the right to ask Natural England to amend or delete your personal data at any time by emailing [email protected].

Where the processing of your data is based on consent, you can normally withdraw this consent at any time by emailing [email protected]. However, you may not be able to withdraw data once Natural England has incorporated it into its analysis.

Who Natural England shares your personal data with

Natural England may share your personal data with other Defra group organisations involved in the NCEA programme. This is to allow them to update their own records or upload the data to the encrypted devices which Natural England surveyors bring on to your land.

The other Defra group organisations are:

  • Defra
  • Environment Agency
  • Joint Nature Conservation Council
  • Forest Research

Natural England does not normally share your personal data with other third parties. If it intends to do so, it will tell you when it invites you to take part in NCEA projects.

Natural England respects your personal privacy when responding to access to information requests. It only shares information when necessary to meet the statutory requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

How long Natural England holds personal data

Natural England will keep your personal data for 5 years from the end of the NCEA project you were involved in.

It may keep data that it has made anonymous for longer.

What happens if you do not provide the data

If you do not provide your personal data:

  • Natural England will not be able to carry out an NCEA survey on your land
  • you’ll be unable to contribute to Natural England’s work in this area

This will mean Natural England holds less information on ecosystems and natural processes in your area.

Use of automated decision-making or profiling

The information you provide is not used for:

  • automated decision making (making a decision by automated means without any human involvement)
  • profiling (automated processing of personal data to evaluate certain things about an individual)

Transfer of data outside of the UK

Natural England will only transfer your data to another country that is deemed adequate for data protection purposes.

Your rights

Find out about your individual rights under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Complaints

You have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office at any time.

Natural England’s personal information charter

Natural England’s personal information charter explains more about your rights over your personal data.

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