Species considerations in the design of biodiversity offset schemes in England

On 16th September 2013, twelve ecologists met to evaluate how species can be given consideration in biodiversity offsets in the English context. They noted that while the type, area and distinctiveness of vegetation cover (‘habitat’) within a proposed development site is sometimes a useful basis for assessing likely impacts on individual species, this is not always the case. If biodiversity offsetting is to contribute towards a goal of ‘no net loss’ of biodiversity, assessment of the impacts of a development must take into account the abundance of individual species in the wider landscape within which it is situated. An assessment process should be initiated to identify Species of Principal Importance for which habitat is not a suitable proxy to their presence or absence. This process would be based on the wealth of existing ecological evidence and methods available in England, including habitat suitability assessments and models. There is a need to designate a set of approaches to offsetting for impacts on each species requiring special consideration in biodiversity offsets. It is recommended that a central on-line repository of know-how for establishing species populations is created for use as a guide to the long-term viability of plans for offsets for species.