35Biodiversity offsetting is a mechanism aimed at achieving biodiversity gains to 36 compensate for the residual impacts of development activities on biodiversity. 37Estimating the ecological equivalence of biodiversity lost to development with that 38 gained by the offset requires a currency that captures the biota of interest and an 39 accounting model to evaluate the exchange. Ecologically robust, and user-friendly 40 decision support tools improve the transparency of biodiversity offsetting and assist in 41 the decision making process. Here we describe a tool developed for the New Zealand 42 Department of Conservation that offers a mechanism to transparently design and 43 evaluate biodiversity offsets intended to deliver no net loss. It is a relatively 44 disaggregated accounting model that balances like-for-like biodiversity trades using a 45 suite of area by condition currencies to calculate net present biodiversity value 46 (NPBV) to account individually for each measured biodiversity element of interest. 47The NPBV is used to evaluate whether a no net loss exchange is likely for each 48 biodiversity attribute. More disaggregated currencies have an advantage over 49 aggregated currencies (which use composite metrics) in that they account for each 50 itemised biodiversity element of concern. The disaggregated model we present can be 51 used to account for a variety of biodiversity types in an offset exchange, and for 52 different scales and complexities of development and impacts within both statutory 53 and voluntary frameworks. 54 55 Keywords biodiversity offsetting; disaggregated currencies; net present biodiversity 56 value 57 58 3
Internationally, birds of prey are often reported as being relatively prone to collision with wind turbines in comparison to other groups of birds. However, as yet it is unclear to what extent New Zealand's only endemic bird of prey, the New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae), is at risk. In this paper we summarise the potential for wind farms to impact New Zealand falcon, evaluate the efficacy of a range of risk assessment and post-consent monitoring practices, and present options for mitigating and/or offsetting any residual effects. We conclude that the lack of knowledge on the effects of wind farms on New Zealand falcon is the result of inconsistency in the assessment methods thus far employed and the absence of a coordinated approach to monitoring methods and the dissemination of results. To remedy this we present a risk assessment framework that, if adopted, will provide the information necessary to ensure alternative energy targets can be met without compromising the conservation of this threatened species.
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