Comments on: Case studies of biodiversity offsetting: voices from the ground — a critical briefing note from Friends of the Earth http://www.biodiversityoffsets.net/case-studies-biodiversity-offsetting-voices-ground-critical-briefing-note-friends-earth/ A Platform for Information and Exchange on Biodiversity Offsets and the Mitigation Hierarchy by Marianne Darbi Tue, 02 May 2017 16:49:45 +0000 hourly 1 By: Raymond Katebaka http://www.biodiversityoffsets.net/case-studies-biodiversity-offsetting-voices-ground-critical-briefing-note-friends-earth/#comment-6276 Thu, 19 Feb 2015 05:30:29 +0000 http://www.biodiversityoffsets.net/?p=1860#comment-6276 I have recently been offered a doctorate research (PhD) place at Rmit University in Melbourne, Victoria. although I am still struggling with finding funding/scholarship for it, but hopeful that with this network I can be helped to accomplish my research. My research topic is “The potential of biodiversity offsets in mining for wider application”. With CRICOS code 079818E, Location/Campus City Campus, Offered program duration 4 year(s). While I didn’t want to be passionate and a critique about biodiversity offsets practices, since 2008 when I learned of the practice, I observed some mismatch in ecosystems regarding my experience of impact assessment studies that I have been involved in developing countries in Uganda (Africa) as a whole and the offsets themselves. Thus, I decided to develop my career focused on the biodiversity offset practices. Since then my concerns have been, the net loss and net gain is only tied to enlisted species of IUCN which disregards the below ground and space biodiversity unconsidered. Thus my research problem statement is that “The efficiency of biodiversity offset areas to restore species in entirety from the sites of adverse impacts is not clear”. In addition, the net loss to balance with the net gain considered in the interaction regimes could efficiently work fairly since biodiversity differs at spatial and temporal distribution scales. The distribution may include habitats in below ground, in landscape, in space and gene pool. Biodiversity offset practices are commonly used in extensive land use changes such as infrastructural development projects that affect areas of species of conservation concern. Visibly from small-large scale land use changes affect biodiversity in its composition of abundance and diversity. However compensation for any residual significant, adverse impacts that cannot be avoided, minimised and/or rehabilitated or restored, in order to achieve no net loss or a net gain of biodiversity is considerably challenged. The offsetting should consider not only the net loss or a net gain of biodiversity but also beyond the species such as carbon stocks. Currently offsets are commonly practiced in mining development projects in countries with well-established policies and laws. Yet the environmental changes are triggered by the biodiversity loss. The idea of biodiversity offsets is controversial to some in the conservation community; the fear is that that the use of offsets could encourage regulators to allow projects with severe impacts on biodiversity to go ahead as long as they offered offsets to compensate, and allow companies to leave significant impacts in areas affected by projects as long as they undertook conservation work elsewhere. Further, in poor condition this might continue deteriorating forever because there was no requirement or incentive for a change in management and yet in conservation terms putting that site into better management would be a key priority (Defra 2012). This research is anticipated to strengthen the biodiversity offset practice, guide proponents on where and how much biodiversity requires being an offset, and inform the policy review to including findings on the species response. Advise on the use of management plans through the application of baseline studies and include a new chapter on the environmental management plan (EMP) as a tool for development. Conservation organizations will need the use of new approach by used the study.

I am challenging the promoters, until I have found out the efficiency that this is a good practice in conservation and can be promoted by governments.

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