Forest clearances, compensatory afforestation and biodiversity offsetting in forests: Balancing flexibility and equivalency in Switzerland

Forest Policy and Economics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 163, P. 103219 - 103219

Published: April 8, 2024

The settlement area is expanding at the cost of agricultural land in densely populated regions such as Central Europe. This development also affecting forest. Forest clearances due to, e.g. traffic and energy infrastructure development, require afforestation elsewhere but surfaces providing appropriate soil are increasingly scarce. Switzerland an important case point. It populated, exhibits a large amount forest – lowlands although it features strong protection law, recently allowed compensating with non-forest related offsets. Based on results Q-methodology survey conducted during stakeholder workshop, we show that pressure for more flexible specific rules largely stems from "outside" sector, i.e. agriculture sector. Only small group actors aims reinstalling restrictive regime, whereas largest embraces status quo. rejects expansion adheres to strengthening top mitigation hierarchy, prioritizing habitat loss caused by development. interpretation biodiversity offsetting aligns conviction needs respect limits growth. Prioritizing hierarchy requires planning rather than market coordination approach. We context rigid rules, following multipurpose regime high land-use competition, preferences impede integration banking approaches into compensatory

Language: Английский

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Application and attitudes: active restoration in the context of biodiversity offsetting

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 32(5)

Published: April 4, 2024

The global trend in offsetting for no‐net‐loss (NNL) is increasing, focusing on protecting high‐condition habitats and restoring degraded ones. Australia's New South Wales (NSW) Biodiversity Offset Scheme (BOS) promotes active restoration (AR; reconstruction of missing ecosystem properties, AR) offset sites. We examined (1) the adoption AR under BOS, (2) practical constraints attitudes toward AR. Records management actions 138 proposed sites revealed that was 19.3% (12,180 ha) total area (67,310 ha). For areas with a low‐moderate condition score (26,528 ha), only 27.3% (7248 despite these being where it would be most likely to necessary. A survey 111 individuals involved policy while 76% agreed necessary NNL, financial were seen as major barrier. structural equation model indicated positive rules social imperative strongly linked agreement necessity NNL outcomes. Our results indicate could influence sites, even cases policies are explicitly designed provide incentives AR, exemplified context NSW.

Language: Английский

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Offset integrity reduces environmental risk: Using lessons from biodiversity and carbon offsetting to inform water quality offsetting in the catchments of the Great Barrier Reef

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 951, P. 175786 - 175786

Published: Aug. 26, 2024

Language: Английский

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Systematic nature positive markets

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(3)

Published: Nov. 8, 2023

Abstract Environmental markets are a rapidly emerging tool to mobilize private funding incentivize landholders undertake more sustainable land management. How units of biodiversity in these measured and subsequently traded creates key challenges ecologically economically because it determines whether environmental can deliver net gains efficiently lower the costs conservation. We developed tested metric for such based on well‐established principle irreplaceability from systematic conservation planning. Irreplaceability as avoids limitations like‐for‐like trading allows one capture multidimensional nature ecosystems (e.g., habitats, species, ecosystem functioning) simultaneously achieve cost‐effective, land‐manager‐led investments Using an integrated ecological modeling approach, we using is beneficial than simpler offset metrics typically used gain no‐net‐loss policies. ensured no loss, or even gain, depending targets chosen. Other did not provide same assurances and, flexibility with which be achieved, how they overlap development pressure, were less efficient. reduced offsetting developers restoration society. Integrating economic data planning approaches would therefore assure managers being fairly rewarded opportunity transparently most efficient recovery.

Language: Английский

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No net loss of biodiversity, green growth, and the need to address drivers

One Earth, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(6), P. 612 - 614

Published: June 1, 2022

Biodiversity offsets and no net loss (NNL) are important tools for the international policy focus on ecological restoration. In this issue of One Earth, Kajula et al. call national, public offset registers to enable evaluations biodiversity programs. Here, we argue that also need control main drivers loss. Credible offsetting needs national confirm lossKujala al.One EarthJune 17, 2022In BriefBiodiversity schemes seek compensate through human development by producing equal gains elsewhere, aiming at biodiversity. Although increasingly common, extent which such achieve NNL remains unclear because basic information about their outcomes is unavailable. Here outline criteria will a reliable accessible registry, better monitoring, clear reporting effectiveness schemes. According our analysis, existing meet these so far. Full-Text PDF Open Access

Language: Английский

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