Sustain common species and ecosystem functions through biodiversity offsets: response to Pilgrimet al.

A Framework for Implementing and Valuing Biodiversity Offsets in Colombia: A Landscape Scale Perspective

“…For example, in some cases, forest clearing resulted in the planting of fruit trees as a way to compensate for impacts [18]. As a result of this work, MADS adopted a resolution and a methodology to incorporate the principles of biodiversity offsets outlined in our analyses into its licensing process for terrestrial projects [50,51] (Colombia, 2012-Resolución 1517 de 2012) [52]. For the first time, mitigation decisions will be made in accordance with an explicit science-based framework.…”

“…The approach outlined here, updated with new information as it becomes available, could be used to guide projects that follow this protocol. Given the coarse scale nature of the species data utilized in our analysis and our decision to use species data to supplement the selection of ecological system offset sites there is a very real chance that at risk, rare and underrepresented species could be disfavored by this offset methodology [50]. As this framework is implemented and development plans in the pilot landscapes are refined, it is likely that biodiversity assessments will also be refined.…”

Application of management tools to integrate ecological principles with the design of marine infrastructure

“…To limit such effects, biodiversity offsets should be considered in the context of a mitigation hierarchy (Regnery et al, 2013). Such hierarchy includes a 4-step procedure: 1) to avoid development on hotspots of diversity or areas with threatened species; 2) to reduce the footprint of the development, i.e.…”

“…Such hierarchy includes a 4-step procedure: 1) to avoid development on hotspots of diversity or areas with threatened species; 2) to reduce the footprint of the development, i.e. to reduce the impacted area or the impact itself; 3) restoration or rehabilitation to remedy the effects of the development; and 4) the implementation of offset measurements to compensate for any residual effects (modified from McKenney and Kiesecker, 2010;Regnery et al, 2013). One of the major challenges to marine development offsetting is the lack of knowledge on longterm impacts of such developments on essential ecosystem services provided by marine systems.…”

Optimizing regulatory requirements to aid in the implementation of compensatory mitigation

“…; Regnery et al . ). Furthermore, most regulatory frameworks focus on a narrow subset of biodiversity features (McKenney & Kiesecker ), and mitigation requirements are not set in motion unless there are impacts to one or more of these focal species or systems, limiting their value towards meeting broader conservation goals.…”