Published: May 23, 2022

Given the importance of environmental compensations and biodiversity offsets (i.e.compensations with no net loss biodiversity) for conservation their increasing use worldwide, it is critical to understand improve these mechanisms.In this work, we sought broaden our understanding make suggestions improvement, focusing on ways measure achieve ecological equivalence in compensation trades.First, reviewed academic literature condition metrics used offsets.We unraveled understood main limitations metrics: frequent lack incorporation three dimensions (biodiversity, landscape ecosystem services), inclusion many attributes highly aggregated a single formula, generating value as final result, fact they were developed few countries, primarily from Global North -yet, are commonly applied other inclusive South.Thus, next step was trying overcome by developing new metric.We created Disaggregated Condition Metric, which presents flexibility number identity included, always disaggregated way.To metric simpler, tested synergy trade-off relationships identified those most redundant that could be dismissed, including equivalence.Compensation trades only allowed within spatial units (hexagons 5 10 thousand hectares) same selected at end tests.Using tropical biome Atlantic Forest state São Paulo study system, were: bird richness, connectivity, potential pollination service.The Metric has high successfully transposed regions, especially South.Our test application real situation.For this, Legal Reserve scheme proposed Brazilian New Code.Considering area Paulo, calculated each hexagon values deficit surplus Reserve, areas possibly available restoration native vegetation, private an irregular situation public protected areas, where carried out, costs employing strategies.We six scenarios performance strategies, using Environmental trades.We showed practically entire can compensated combination protection restoration, scenario best cost-efficiency, considering costs, resolution increase forest cover (considered here "additionality").Therefore, not contributed better functioning gaps offset compensation, but also possible create fills gaps.Even more relevant, include scheme, maintaining supply good costefficiency.We expect results incorporated into regulations policies related theme.

Language: Английский