Are we ready for biodiversity offsetting?

Biodiversity offsetting is a last-resort scheme to prevent biodiversity loss due to development. However, measuring biodiversity is a complex endeavour, even more so in hyperdiverse landscapes. With few South African scientists able to comprehensively measure biodiversity, assuming equivalence betwe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:South African Journal of Science 2024-07, Vol.120 (7/8), p.1-4
Main Authors: Crous, Gasparus J, Pryke, James S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biodiversity
biodiversity conservation
Biodiversity loss
biodiversity offsets
capacity building
Ecosystems
Endangered & extinct species
Environmental economics
Environmental management
functional diversity
Health care
Heterogeneity
knowledge and technology transfer
Net losses
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Summary:Biodiversity offsetting is a last-resort scheme to prevent biodiversity loss due to development. However, measuring biodiversity is a complex endeavour, even more so in hyperdiverse landscapes. With few South African scientists able to comprehensively measure biodiversity, assuming equivalence between sacrificial and offset areas would be problematic and potentially fatal. Caution is required as the erosion of our unique biodiversity is at stake. We advise that a panel of biome-specific experts and data modellers unite to provide tools for more accurate trade-offs, based on functional diversity. In the meantime, the value of focusing on landscape heterogeneity is highlighted.
ISSN:0038-2353
1996-7489
DOI:10.17159/sajs.2024/16757