I think it's a lot to do with being "seen" doing something. How else will people know that their money is well spent if they can't see anything. You also need to have a physical product you can contract out to your BIL, or golfing buddy. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Looks like it's more a case of green washing.
That too. 11.5% is a very specific number. 11.5% of what?
Yeah, it's a stupid number because there's a qualitative element to biodiversity, not just a quantitative one. I'd imagine it's either a pure square metre calculation about vegetation removed versus garden beds planted, although if they're being really sneaky no. of trees cut down vs no. planted.
It is complicated. I agree that there is too much emphasis on planting sometimes inappropriately. But where I am its a question of adding new hedgerows. Improving wildlife connectivity, flood reduction, as well as other benefits. These need to be planted. We use locally grown trees from local seed