compensation

Facilitating better ecological outcomes from high-stakes decision-making requires evaluation of biodiversity models to address risk and transparency

Biodiversity offsetting and compensation are high-stakes endeavours. Much rests on the process by which an offset or compensation proposal is designed and the tools used to evaluate the proposal, as this has a strong and direct influence on the potential outcomes for biodiversity. Models by their nature are imperfect, but their ecological robustness, and therefore usefulness, can be improved by adhering to well-established principles of good model development.

Poorly designed biodiversity loss-gain models facilitate biodiversity loss in New Zealand

Biodiversity offsetting and compensation proposals are routinely employed through the resource consenting process to address development-induced indigenous biodiversity losses in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Determining the quantum of demonstrable biodiversity gain required to adequately account for development induced losses is a fundamental component of designing a biodiversity offset. However, trading biodiversity is complex and must account for substantial uncertainties.