About the Biodiversity Offsets Newsweek
If you are interested in environmental compensation and biodiversity offsets, there are certainly good news: there is now a whole bunch of information from different sources, locations and viewpoints publicly available (something which wasn’t this easy only a couple of years ago). Now, as has been pointed out (see here) the Biodiversity Offsets Blog aims to compile and somewhat structure this information. But there is not only a wealth of sources already out there on the internet, but also new sources are continuously being added. I am following and collecting the news via Scoop.it and cover the most trending ones in posts on the Biodiversity Offsets Blog. Nevertheless, not all news can be covered (at least not yet) and therefore the “Biodiversity Offsets Newsweek” will list up the headlines of the past week, together with the links and PDFs of the articles or news (the latter to prevent to loose information — as we know, that unfortunately every now and then things are being removed from the internet).
This week: September 22–28, 2014
This week (September 22–28, 2014) held a multitude of different biodiversity offset news. First of all, two events on biodiversity offsets and the no net loss initiative of the EU took place in the UK and Germany. Again, several articles covered biodiversity offsets in Australia: on the one hand, Sarah Macoun and Olivia Williamson argue how the proposed amendments to the Environmental Offsets Act 2014 contribute to removing duplication associated with offset conditions imposed by Commonwealth, State and local government. On the other hand, the Conservation Council of the ACT Region states that the recently passed biodiversity offset legislation in the ACT will result in net loss of biodiversity in the Canberra region. Beside some BAU (business as usual) articles from the UK, namely the “nightingales of Lodge Hill” (where a housing development is planned) and Smithy Wood (in which a motorway service station shall be built), and some examples of biodiversity offsets and mitigation banking in the US, the most interesting point is probably the advancement of biodiversity offsets in Latin America. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela are the countries with some kind of biodiversity offsetting system, while Ecuador is studying how to implement a mechanism. This Newsweek closes with some biodiversity offset related videos I have found on YouTube and some criticism on biodiversity offsets, e.g. Kumi Naidoo claims that “we cannot accept so-called ‘forest offsets’ that allow the fossil fuel industry to continue polluting”.
Events on Biodiversity Offsets
Biodiversity Offsetting Workshop, September 22, 2014, Hatton (see my post here)
No Net Loss Initiative – risk or chance for nature? Political session of the German green party, September 26, 2014, Berlin (see my post here)
Biodiversity Offsets in Australia
Do proposed amendments to the Environmental Offsets Act 2014 deliver on “nil duplication” of environmental offsets? September 23, 2014, by Sarah Macoun and Olivia Williamson (see also here and here)
Regional focus a key to feedback, September 26, 2014, by Roderick Makim
Biodiversity offsets legislation will not deliver environmental outcomes, September 23, 2014, media release by Conservation Council ACT region
North Galilee Basin rail line receives Federal green light, September 25, 2014, by David Chen and Kathleen Calderwood
Newsweek 22–28 September 2014_North Galilee Basin rail line receives Federal green light
Adani Mining gains approval for $1.94bn coal mine rail project in Australia, September 26, 2014, by Energy Business Review
Newsweek 22–28 September 2014_Adani Mining gains approval for $1
Biodiversity Offsets in Latin America
BIODIVERSITY OFFSETTING ADVANCES IN LATIN AMERICA AMIDST CONTROVERSY, September 23, 2014, by Emilio Godoy (see also here and here and here)
Biodiversity Offsets in the UK
Campaign to save ancient wood takes hit, September 25, 2014, by The Yorkshire Post
Newsweek 22–28 September 2014_Campaign to save ancient wood takes hit
Nightingales v 5,000 new homes: the battle over the woods of Lodge Hill, September 25, 2014, by Patrick Barkham
Weird: UKIP is now the main political party defending Lodge Hill from development, September 28, 2014, by Miles King
Labour commits to building 200,000 new homes a year: Great: where? September 24, 2014, by Miles King
Newsweek 22–28 September 2014_Labour commits to building 200,000 new homes a year
Biodiversity Offset Examples in the US
New framework for trading wetlands urged, September 22, 2014, by agrinews
Newsweek 22–28 September 2014_New framework for trading wetlands urged
Environmental impact of new Richland 2 school focus of Wednesday meeting, September 24, 2014, by Carolyn Click
First phase of Dry Creek makeover nears completion, September 25, 2014, by Mary Callahan
Newsweek 22–28 September 2014_First phase of Dry Creek makeover nears completion
Going and Gone: golf course stuff auctioned off, September 25, 2014, by J. Harry Jones
Newsweek 22–28 September 2014_Going and Gone_ golf course stuff auctioned of
Videos on Biodiversity Offsets (on Youtube)
Biodiversity Offsetting Fiat Justitia with David Takacs, September 28, 2014, YouTube Video (3:35 min)
Biodiversity Offsetting Fiat Justitia with David Takacs 2, September 28, 2014, YouTube Video (3:35 min)
The Minmi Link Road Estate — Newcastle and The Hunter Valley, September 25, 2014, YouTube Video (3:12 min)
Australia’s biodiversity: mining, September 23, 2014, YouTube Video (6:12 min)
Criticism on Biodiversity Offsets
Take action: say no to biodiversity offsetting, September 25, 2014, by Friends of the Earth Europe
Forests Need Laws, Not Loopholes, September 25, 2014, by Kumi Naidoo
Newsweek 22–28 September 2014_Forests Need Laws, Not Loopholes
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