Biodiversity Offsets – a tool for Environmental Management and Biodiversity Conservation IÖR Dresden, Germany, Marianne Darbi, TOP Biodiversity Conference,

Biodiversity Offsets – a tool for Environmental Management and Biodiversity ConservationIÖR Dresden, Germany, Marianne Darbi, TOP Biodiversity Conference, 3-4 June, Larnaca

Marianne Darbi, IÖR Dresden

TOP Biodiversity Conference, 3-4 June 2010, Larnaca

Biodiversity OffsetsA tool for Environmental Management and Biodiversity Conservation

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Outline

1. Background

2. Characteristics of Biodiversity Offsets

3. Kinds of Biodiversity Offsets

a) Mandatory

b) Voluntary

4. Criticism

5. Potentials

6. Conclusion

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1. Background

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1. Land Use Change and Land Take

Urban sprawl and settlement

Intensification of agriculture and abandonment of traditional land management

forms

Infrastructure

2. Emission of pollutants e.g. increased use of pesticides and fertilizers

3. Overexploitation:

Tourism

Forestry

Fisheries

4. Invasive Species

5. Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emission

Driving Forces for ongoing Biodiversity Loss

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Need to restore Biodiversity

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blabla Global Biodiversity Outlook 2006:

Increasing pressure on Species and Habitats

Biodiversity Loss

Value of Biodiversity for Human Wellbeing:

Economy and Society depend on nature and landscape

Mankind depends on products and services that Biodiversity provides

Beside conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity RESTORATION is a key principle to stop biodiversity decline.


2. Characteristics of Biodiversity Offsets

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What are Biodiversity Offsets?

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“Biodiversity Offsets are conservation

activities intended to compensate for the

residual, unavoidable harm to biodiversity

caused by development projects” ten Kate et al. 2004

“Biodiversity offsets seek to ensure that

unavoidable adverse environmental impacts

of development are counterbalanced by

environmental gains” Escorcio Bezerra 2006

Biodiversity

= Variety of species and

ecosystems as well as

genetic diversity

Polluter pays principle


Mitigation Hierarchy

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Follow subsequent steps:

Step 1: avoid or prevent negative impacts on biodiversity

Step 2: address unavoidable impacts through minimization and

rehabilitation measures

Step 3: establish compensation measures („Biodiversity Offsets“) as a last

resort for residual adverse impacts: restitution or compensation payment


Functional and Spatial Equivalence

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spatial characteristics:

functional characteristics:

OnOn-Site Compensation

OffOff-Site Compensation

InIn- Kind Compensation

Out ofOut of- Kind Compensation


Problem of Time Lag:

Aggregated Offsets: provision or concentration of compensation areas and measures

Problem of Sustainability

Monitoring and Follow Up to assure the effectiveness and long-term success of Biodiversity Offsets

Timing and Aggregated Offsets

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Full Compensation

RestorationResidual Impact

Impact


MandatoryBiodiversity Offsets

VoluntaryBiodiversity Offsets

3. Kinds of Biodiversity Offsets

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Mandatory Biodiversity Offsets

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Environmental Impact Assessment

German Impact Mitigation Regulation

US Wetland Mitigation Banking


German Impact Mitigation Regulation

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Impact Mitigation Regulation (“Eingriffsregelung”) is the major landscape conservation instrument to

address mitigation and compensation for impacts from developments and projects in Germany:

entered into force as part of the Federal Nature Conservation Act 1976

comprehensive approach (for all impacts, on all scales, not restricted to specific areas)

2002 and 2009 amendments to the Federal Nature Conservation Act: loosening of spatial and

functional connection between impact and compensation

compensation pools: provision and bundling of compensation sites and measures


Voluntary Biodiversity Offsets

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In contrast to Mandatory Biodiversity Offsets, Voluntary Biodiversity Offsets are implemented without prior obligation, in response to the growing public pressure on corporations and

governments to demonstrate that they are addressing the environmental impacts of their activities.


The business case for Biodiversity Offsets

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License to operate

Access to land and resources, acceleration of licensing procedures, avoidance of costly delays, influence on

emerging environmental regulation and policy

Reputation Good PR, enhanced reputation and „social license to operate“, better relationship with local communities, governmental regulators, environmental groups and

other stakeholders

Access to capital

Higher standards of international financial and funding institutions

Efficiency Management of social and environmental risks and liabilities

New markets Competitive advantage as „First mover“


Business and Biodiversity Offset Program

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Partnership of: companies, scientists, NGOs, government agencies,

research institutes and financial institutions

Focus on: compensation for impacts on biodiversity

Aim to: mainstream concept of „No Net Loss“ of biodiversity into

development projects

Results of Phase 1 (2004-2009): Biodiversity Offset handbooks

Website: http://bbop.forest-trends.org


4. Criticism of Biodiversity Offsets

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License to trash

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When is an offset appropriate?

Distinguish between

offsettable and not

offsettable impacts

Criteria: irreplaceability,

vulnerability etc.

Need to define thresholds


How to ensure equivalence between impact and offset?

Problem to measure and value biodiversity

Different „currencies“

Indirect and cumulative impacts

Multitude of existing evaluation

and balancing methods

Comparing apples and oranges

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How long lasts perpetuity?

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Duration of impacts vs. Duration of offsets

Short and long-term impacts

Temporary and permanent impacts

Criteria: reversitbility, feasibility etc.

In practice different timeframes

are applied

Biodiversity Offsets should last

as long as the impairment

persists

need for Follow Up


Shift of responsibility

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What are the physical and financial compensation means used for?

Negative use: MERE use for the

management and maintenance

of existing protected areas

Biodiversity Offsets should not

replace Conservation and other

obligations of governmental bodies

(Nature Conservation Authorities etc.)


5. Potentials of Biodiversity Offsets

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Trading up

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Preference for „in kind“ offsetting

However sometimes not feasible

or not effective

Trading up: substituting a less

valuable asset by an asset that

is more valuable in terms of

either its quality or quantity


Landscape Level Planning and Green Networks

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Small sites can require a disproportionate effort of management

and sometimes not prove to be efffective

Landscape and habitat pattern

Advantages of Aggregated Offsets

and Banking: Compensation Pools

and Mitigation Banks are effective

instruments to implement Biodiversity

Offsets with a minimum of land

consumption, bureaucracy and

costs and a maximum of nature

conservation value


6. Conclusion

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What is the role of Biodiversity Offsets in the future?

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Business/MarketRegulation/Government

People/Society

Biodiversity Offsets


Thank you for your attention!

Leibniz Institute of Ecological and Regional Development Marianne Darbi

Weberplatz 1 Fon: 0049 351 463 42356

01217 Dresden Fax : 0049 351 4679 212

www.ioer.de E-Mail: [email protected]

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Biodiversity Offsets – a tool for Environmental Management and Biodiversity Conservation IÖR Dresden, Germany, Marianne Darbi, TOP Biodiversity Conference,