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Kigonya R. 'Old wine in a new bottle': conceptualization of biodiversity offsets among environmental practitioners in Uganda. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 69:1202-1216. [PMID: 35394161 PMCID: PMC9079017 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-022-01639-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity offsets are increasingly adopted to mitigate the negative impacts of development activities on biodiversity. However, in practice, there are inconsistencies in how biodiversity offsets are understood and implemented. Based on interviews with environmental practitioners, the study sought to explore the conceptual understanding of biodiversity offsets among personnel involved in the design and implementation of offset schemes in Uganda. The study employed a 'technical use analysis' to seek personal interpretation and operationalization of the concept of biodiversity offsets. The results revealed that the concept tends to be simplified and adjusted to individual, project, and country contexts. The respondents had varied perceptions of biodiversity offsets in practice as compared to the theoretical concept. Biodiversity offsets were classified under five terms: trade-offs, payments, substitutes, compensations, and mitigation measures. The terms were derived from perceived inability of the measure to attain no net loss, and similarities of biodiversity components and services across impact and offset sites. Biodiversity offsets were thus considered no different from ordinary environmental conservation measures, contributing nothing unique to the conservation agenda. The study concludes that widespread implementation of biodiversity offsets under prevailing perceptions will escalate biodiversity loss. The study recommends emphasis on attaining no net loss through implementing outcome-based offsets as opposed to purpose-based offsets, that require delivering of 'no net loss' gains prior to projects being considered biodiversity offsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritah Kigonya
- Department of Geography, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
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Frantzeskaki N, Oke C, Barnett G, Bekessy S, Bush J, Fitzsimons J, Ignatieva M, Kendal D, Kingsley J, Mumaw L, Ossola A. A transformative mission for prioritising nature in Australian cities. AMBIO 2022; 51:1433-1445. [PMID: 35352304 PMCID: PMC8963402 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01725-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Australia is experiencing mounting pressures related to processes of urbanisation, biodiversity loss and climate change felt at large in cities. At the same time, it is cities that can take the leading role in pioneering approaches and solutions to respond to those coupling emergencies. In this perspective piece we respond to the following question: What are the required transformations for prioritising, valuing, maintaining and embracing nature in cities in Australia? We adopt the mission framework as an organising framework to present proposed pathways to transform Australian cities as nature-positive places of the future. We propose three interconnected pathways as starting actions to steer urban planning, policy and governance in Australian cities: First, cities need to establish evidence-based planning for nature in cities and mainstream new planning tools that safeguard and foreground urban nature. Second, collaborative planning needs to become a standard practice in cities and inclusive governance for nature in cities needs to prioritise Aboriginal knowledge systems and practices as well as look beyond what local governments can do. Third, for progressing to nature-positive cities, it is paramount to empower communities to innovate with nature across Australian cities. Whilst we focus on Australian cities, the lessons and pathways are broadly applicably globally and can inspire science-policy debates for the post COP15 biodiversity and COP26 climate change implementation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Frantzeskaki
- Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cathy Oke
- Connected Cities Lab, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Guy Barnett
- CSIRO Land and Water, Clunies Ross Street, Canberra, ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Sarah Bekessy
- ICON Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001 Australia
| | - Judy Bush
- Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - James Fitzsimons
- The Nature Conservancy, Suite 2-01, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, VIC 3053 Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125 Australia
| | - Maria Ignatieva
- School of Design, the University of Western Australia, M433, Perth, WA 6001 Australia
| | - Dave Kendal
- Healthy Landscapes Research Group, School of Geography, Planning and Spatial Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000 Australia
| | - Jonathan Kingsley
- Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, 12 Wakefield Street (Swinburne Place West), Melbourne, VIC 3122 Australia
| | - Laura Mumaw
- Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, 124 La Trobe St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
- Gardens for Wildlife Victoria, 511 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South, VIC 3152 Australia
| | - Alessandro Ossola
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW Australia
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Science, The University of Melbourne, Burnley, VIC Australia
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Ma D, Rhodes J, Maron M. The consequences of coastal offsets for fisheries. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Deqiang Ma
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Queensland QLD Australia
| | - Jonathan Rhodes
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Queensland QLD Australia
| | - Martine Maron
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Queensland QLD Australia
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