Dr Jamie Steer, Senior Biodiversity Advisor Presentation to PNRP - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Background to the mitigation hierarchy

and the use of biodiversity offsetting

Dr Jamie Steer, Senior Biodiversity Advisor

Presentation to PNRP Hearings Panel, 9th April 2018

Overview

1. Background to the mitigation hierarchy (Para 411-415) 2. Use of the word ‘minimise’ in the hierarchy (Para 417-421) 3. Order and structure of the mitigation hierarchy (Para 422-425) 4. Level of residual effects to be managed (Para 438-456) 5. Definition of biodiversity offset (Para 457-462) 6. No net loss (Para 463-467) 7. Schedule G (Para 468-480)

• 1. Background to the mitigation hierarchy

1. Avoid 2. Minimise (mitigate, moderate, reduce, alleviate) 3. Remedy (rehabilitate, restore, reinstate) 4. Offset

Remedy Minimise

• Avoid: move impact (or part of impact)

somewhere else

• Avoid: move impact (or part of impact)

somewhere else

• Minimise: reduce the impact

• Avoid: move impact (or part of impact)

somewhere else

• Minimise: reduce the impact
• Remedy: redress the impact

• Avoid: move impact (or part of impact)

somewhere else

• Minimise: reduce the impact
• Remedy: redress the impact
• Offset: positive steps undertaken to

benefit affected biodiversity values elsewhere

• 2. Use of the word ‘minimise’ in the hierarchy

• 2. Use of the word ‘minimise’ in the hierarchy

Mitigate’s two meanings:

• 1. To alleviate, or to abate, or to moderate

the severity of something

• 2. Use of the word ‘minimise’ in the hierarchy

Mitigate’s two meanings:

• 1. To alleviate, or to abate, or to moderate

the severity of something

• 2. As a collection of avoid, remedy and

mitigate actions (i.e., a ‘mitigation package’)

• 2. Use of the word ‘minimise’ in the hierarchy

“In practice, most forms of impact management have commonly been collectively termed ‘mitigation’ or represented in a comprehensive ‘mitigation package’” (EIANZ, 2015, p. 70).

• 2. Use of the word ‘minimise’ in the hierarchy

“In practice, most forms of impact management have commonly been collectively termed ‘mitigation’ or represented in a comprehensive ‘mitigation package’” (EIANZ, 2015, p. 70). “…the difference between minimise and mitigate is that minimise is to make (something) as small or as insignificant as possible while mitigate is to reduce, lessen, or decrease” (Kerry Anderson, 2018, definitions in Appendix 1).

• 3. Order and structure of the mitigation hierarchy

“Prior to considering a biodiversity offset for a specific project it is necessary to address adverse effects on site by:

• First avoiding or preventing impacts from occurring
• Where avoidance is not reasonably practicable, impacts should

be minimised

• Rehabilitating and restoring on-site biodiversity from temporary

impacts associated with the activity” (NZ Government, 2014, p. 18, emphasis mine).

• 4. Level of residual effects to be managed

P32: The redress of any significant residual adverse effects on aquatic ecosystem health and mahinga kai through the use of biodiversity offsets can be considered P41: The redress of any residual adverse effects on ecosystems and habitats with significant indigenous biodiversity values through the use of biodiversity offsets may be required

• 5. Definition of a biodiversity offset

• 5. Definition of a biodiversity offset
• Biodiversity offsets

– not compensation – must be used to enhance biodiversity

• 5. Definition of a biodiversity offset
• Biodiversity offsets

– not compensation – must be used to enhance biodiversity

• Biodiversity mitigation

– includes avoid, minimise, remedy, but not

• ffsetting or compensation

– must be undertaken at the site

• 6. No net loss

“Measurable conservation outcomes resulting from actions designed to compensate for significant residual adverse biodiversity impacts arising from project development after appropriate prevention and mitigation measures have been

• taken. The goal of biodiversity offsets is to achieve no net loss

and preferably a net gain of biodiversity on the ground” (BBOP, 2009, p. 15, emphasis mine).

• 7. Schedule G

Principles Offsetting Mitigation

• 1. Adherence to the mitigation hierarchy Yes

Yes

• 2. Limits to what can be offset

Yes No

• 3. Additional conservation outcomes

Yes Yes

• 4. Landscape context

Yes Yes

• 5. Long-term outcomes

Yes Yes

• 6. No net biodiversity loss

Yes No

References

• Business and Biodiversity Offsets Programme, 2009.

Biodiversity offset design handbook.

• Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand, 2015.

Ecological impact assessment (EcIA): EIANZ guidelines for use in New Zealand.

• New Zealand Government, 2014. Guidance on good practice

biodiversity offsetting in New Zealand.