Credible biodiversity offsetting needs public national registers to confirm no net loss

One Earth, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(6), P. 650 - 662

Published: June 1, 2022

In the face of ongoing biodiversity crisis, questions are arising regarding success, or lack thereof, offset schemes, where losses from human development compensated by producing equitable gains elsewhere. The overarching goal offsetting is to deliver no net loss (NNL) biodiversity. Assessing whether does indeed NNL is, however, challenging because a clear and reliable information about schemes. Here we consider barriers in tracking outcomes, outline criteria public registers enable accessible credible reporting NNL, show how existing fail satisfy those criteria. accessibility transparency represents fundamental gap between targets valid system, which challenges impetus enact transformative changes needed reverse decline.

Language: Английский

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Microplastics in the coral ecosystems: A threat which needs more global attention

Ocean & Coastal Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 249, P. 107012 - 107012

Published: Jan. 17, 2024

Language: Английский

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Exploring the ecological outcomes of mandatory biodiversity net gain using evidence from early‐adopter jurisdictions in England

Conservation Letters, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 14(6)

Published: June 9, 2021

Abstract Net outcome‐type biodiversity policies are proliferating globally as perceived mechanisms to reconcile economic development and conservation objectives. The UK government's Environment Bill will mandate that most new developments in England demonstrate they deliver a net gain (BNG) receive planning permission, representing the wide‐ranging outcome type policy globally. However, with many nascent net‐outcome policies, likely outcomes of mandatory BNG have not been explored empirically. We assemble all assessments (accounting for ∼6% England's annual housebuilding other infrastructure) submitted from January 2020 February 2021 six early‐adopter councils who implementing no loss or requirements advance national adoption BNG, analyze aggregate habitat changes proposed. Our sample is associated 34% reduction area nonurban habitats, generally compensated by commitments smaller areas higher quality years later project cycle. Ninety‐five percent units delivered our come habitats within directly‐adjacent footprint managed developers. we find these gains fall governance gap whereby risk being unenforceable, challenge shared implemented internationally.

Language: Английский

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Breakpoints in butterfly decline in Central Europe over the last century

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 851, P. 158315 - 158315

Published: Aug. 28, 2022

Recent studies indicated severe decline of insect diversity and abundance across major parts Central Europe. Theoretical showed that the drivers behind biodiversity loss vary considerably over time. However, these scenarios so far have been insufficiently approved by long-term large-scale data. In this study we analysed temporal trends butterflies Zygaenid moths federal state Salzburg, northern Austria, from 1920 to 2019. Our area covers a large variety habitats altitudes. Various changes land use intensification occurred during shortly before our studied period, with first wave habitat destruction starting in late 19th century, followed deterioration quality since mid-20th century. We used 59,870 presence-only data 168 butterfly burnet moth species. Each species was classified according ecological characteristics. Break point analyses for non-linear community composition returned two time windows. These windows coincide periods characterized due agricultural intensification. found significant reductions proportion requiring specific until today. identified additional break points high qualities, endangered species, sedentary particularly after main 1960s. findings underline that, apart destruction, is driver general. Therefore, nature conservation should focus on maintaining highest possible quality.

Language: Английский

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A global overview of biodiversity offsetting governance

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 316, P. 115231 - 115231

Published: May 9, 2022

We analyze the development of biodiversity offsetting governance through a research-weaving approach. Here, we combine information from systematized review literature and qualitative analysis institutional developments in different world regions. Through this triangulation, synthesize map developmental streams around globe over last four decades. find that there is global mainstreaming core principles such as avoidance, no-net-loss, mitigation hierarchy, well pooling trading offsets for unavoidable residual damages. Furthermore, can observe an ongoing diversification designs actors involved. Together constitutes emerging regime complex comes with both set shared norms growing complexity. While may imply innovation policy experimentation, it also raises questions regarding effectiveness practices.

Language: Английский

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Collapse of native freshwater mussel populations: Prospects of a long-term study

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 279, P. 109931 - 109931

Published: Feb. 8, 2023

Freshwater biodiversity is under threat, but long-term quantitative studies showing major demographic declines in invertebrate species are still scarce. Here we focus on a study (2004 to 2019) using four native freshwater mussel (Order Unionida) colonizing two canals of the Ebro River (Spain). Special attention was given Pseudunio auricularius (Spengler, 1793), critically endangered species. Generalized linear mixed models results showed significant temporal effects densities, with continuous decline all present, being Anodonta anatina, Potomida littoralis and Unio mancus now considered locally extinct. present studied canals, at very low densities (0.01 ind/m2). Capture-recapture data P. show progressive its survival probability, down 0.15 2020 Canal Imperial de Aragón, although Tauste it remains close 1. Based these results, discuss several hypotheses that may explain this rapid collapse unionid populations. Given precarious conservation status mussels both effective management measures should be urgently applied, including habitat restoration captive breeding.

Language: Английский

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Equivalent biodiversity area: A novel metric for No Net Loss success in Brazil’s changing biomes

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 355, P. 120540 - 120540

Published: March 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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An introduction to key ecological concepts, financial opportunities, and risks underpinning aspirations for nature positive

BioScience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 74(7), P. 450 - 466

Published: April 14, 2024

Global biodiversity is in decline, and businesses society are being required to urgently create new operating models ameliorate the crisis. Among strategies proposed do this, implementing concept of nature positive has captured worldwide attention. Critical its success will be effective collaboration between ecologists businesspeople, driven by a shared understanding key terminology, concepts, risks. To this end, we introduce three core aspects: ecological concepts definition

Language: Английский

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Evaluating the impact of biodiversity offsetting on native vegetation

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 29(15), P. 4397 - 4411

Published: June 10, 2023

Abstract Biodiversity offsetting is a globally influential policy mechanism for reconciling trade‐offs between development and biodiversity loss. However, there little robust evidence of its effectiveness. We evaluated the outcomes jurisdictional (Victoria, Australia). Offsets under Victoria's Native Vegetation Framework (2002–2013) aimed to prevent loss degradation remnant vegetation, generate gains in vegetation extent quality. categorised offsets into those with near‐complete baseline woody cover (“avoided loss”, 2702 ha) incomplete (“regeneration”, 501 ha), impacts on from 2008 2018. used two approaches estimate counterfactual. First, we statistical matching biophysical covariates: common approach conservation impact evaluation, but which risks ignoring potentially important psychosocial confounders. Second, compared changes sites that were not study duration later enrolled as offsets, partially account self‐selection bias (where landholders enrolling land may have shared characteristics affecting how they manage land). Matching covariates, estimated regeneration increased by 1.9%–3.6%/year more than non‐offset (138–180 ha 2018) this effect weakened second (0.3%–1.9%/year sites; 19–97 disappeared when single outlier parcel was removed. Neither detected any avoided offsets. cannot conclusively demonstrate whether goal ‘net gain’ (NG) achieved because data limitations. given our majority increases additional (would happened without scheme), NG outcome seems unlikely. The results highlight importance considering design evaluation regulatory policy, challenges conducting evaluations policies.

Language: Английский

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Achieving biodiversity net gain by addressing governance gaps underpinning ecological compensation policies

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(2)

Published: Oct. 9, 2023

Abstract Biodiversity compensation policies have emerged around the world to address ecological harms of infrastructure expansion, but historically compliance is weak. The Westminster government introducing a requirement that new developments in England demonstrate they achieve biodiversity net gain (BNG). We sought determine magnitude effects governance gaps and regulator capacity constraints on policy's potential impacts. collated BNG information from all major across six early‐adopter councils 2020 2022. quantified proportion outcomes promised under at risk noncompliance, explored variation strategies used meet developers’ liabilities, occurrence simple errors metric calculations. For large energy infrastructure, liabilities frequently met within projects’ development footprint. small developments, purchase offsets was most common. estimated 27% units fell into exposed them high noncompliance because were associated with better‐condition habitats delivered on‐site unlikely be monitored or enforced. More robust mechanisms (e.g., practical for monitoring enforcement) would help ensure delivery this on‐site. Alternatively, more gains could through off‐site offsetting. latter case, we demand rise by factor 4; substantially increase financial contributions developers conservation activities private land. Twenty‐one percent applications contained recurring error their One‐half these approved councils, which may indicate under‐resourcing council assessments. Our findings resourcing shortfalls undermining effectiveness.

Language: Английский

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