Biodiversity offset & its challenges

Abstract

As per IUCN, Biodiversity offsets are measurable conservation outcomes designated to compensate for the adverse and unavoidable impacts of development projects. This is in addition to the prevention and mitigation measures which are already in place. These were introduced first in United States in 1970s to mitigate the damage to wetlands caused due to development activities. Biodiversity offsets are implemented with aim of achieving No Net Loss (NNL) and more preferably a Net Gain (NG) of biodiversity when the development projects are implemented. This biodiversity offset measures are usually a last resort and are used only when other measures of eliminating and or minimizing loss of biodiversity are already implemented. It is the last step to be followed in the mitigation hierarchy as shown in the below figure").