biodiversity compensation

The Biodiversity Compensation Model: a framework to facilitate better ecological outcomes

Two biodiversity models are commonly used by Aotearoa’s terrestrial ecologists to guide habitat restoration and enhancement activities required to offset or compensate for development project impacts. The Biodiversity Offset Accounting Model can be used to assess the adequacy of an offset proposal. A more recent Biodiversity Compensation Model can be used to complement ecologists’ professional judgement on the compensation required. The latter is increasingly used when relevant biodiversity offsetting principles cannot be met with confidence.

Compliance with biodiversity compensation on New Zealand’s public conservation lands

This article assesses compliance with biodiversity compensation on New Zealand’s conservation land. Of the 261 Department of Conservation (DOC) concessions for commercial activity searched, only about 15% included compensation provisions. A sample of 20 concessions of that 15% suggests 68% achieve full compliance. Our results suggest compliance is influenced by factors such as habitat and activity type, protected area category, and whether a concession holder has pending concessions and/or renewals. Inconsistencies in compliance monitoring, enforcement, and reporting merit attention.