Exploring the practical implementation of marine biodiversity offsetting in Australia

Holly J. Niner*, Peter J.S. Jones, Ben Milligan, Craig Styan

*Kontaktforfatter

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

2 Citationer (Scopus)
9 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Biodiversity offsetting with associated aims of no net loss of biodiversity (NNL) is an approach used to align economic development with conservation. Biodiversity offsetting may be more challenging in marine environments, with recent evidence suggesting that the current application of the approach in Australian marine environments rarely follows ‘best practice’ and is unlikely to be meeting stated policy aims. To understand how and why this deviation from best practice is taking place in marine systems, we analysed current practice in Australia through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 31 participants with professional experience in the development and implementation of associated policy. Thematic analysis of results indicated that, despite commitment to best practice in principle, practitioners recognised that operationalisation of marine biodiversity offsetting was inconsistent and unlikely to be meeting stated goals such as NNL. Participants described the central barrier to the adoption of best practice as the technical complexity of assessing and quantifying biodiversity losses and gains, and uncertainty in restoration in marine contexts. With offsetting described as an integral part of development consent for marine economic development, both these barriers and their navigation presents threats to users setting off a chain of accepted activity leading away from best practice. These threats were perceived to arise from low governmental capacity or prioritisation for environmental management, institutional needs for a social licence to operate, and overarching demands for economic growth. We conclude that marine biodiversity offsetting has come to be ambiguous in its practical definition, with a range of conflicting factors influencing its use and preventing the standardisation required to meet rigorous interpretations of best practice necessary to ensure biodiversity protection and NNL.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer113062
TidsskriftJournal of Environmental Management
Vol/bind295
ISSN0301-4797
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 1 okt. 2021

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
We thank all interview participants for their time and candid discussions of their experience with marine biodiversity offsetting. Thanks also to A. Chiumento for advice and discussion on the analytical methods applied.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd

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