Biodiversity offsets: can we push the threshold for offsetable impacts by translocation of substrates and species?

Date:
2018/06/14

Time:
11:00

Room:
K305 Alvar

Biodiversity offsets: can we push the threshold for offsetable impacts by translocation of substrates and species?

(Oral and Poster)

Joakim Hjältén
joakim.hjalten@slu.se

Deaprtment of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, SLU, Umeå, Sweden
,
Therese Lövroth
Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden, Sweden
,
Anne-Maarit Hekkala
Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden, Sweden
,
Mari Jönsson
Swedish Biodiversity Center, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden
,
Ola Lindroos
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
,
Tomas Lundmark
Forest Ecology and Management, SLU, Umeå, Sweden
,
Jessica Nordin
Sveaskog, Sweden
,
Åsa Granberg
Enetjärn Natur, Sweden
,
Torbjörn Josefsson
Enetjärn natur, Sweden

DOI: 10.17011/conference/eccb2018/107649

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Biodiversity offsets: can we push the threshold for offsetable impacts by translocation of substrates and species?

Land-use have led to changes in ecosystem structures and processes, biodiversity loss, and declines in ecosystem services. However, biodiversity offsetting aimed at compensating for residual adverse biodiversity impacts arising from land-use projects potentially provides an approach that links biodiversity conservation and human development. In Sweden, biodiversity offsetts has had limited use so far, but there are expectations that an increased use of biodiversity offsets could help reduce biodiversity loss and maintain ecosystem function.

To fulfill these expectations we need to increase our understanding and knowledge regarding biodiversity offsets both from a theoretical and practical perspective. In this project we will address three main topics 1) Method development: We will evaluate a novel methods for biodiversity offset, translocation of dead wood, which potentially could push the threshold for offsetable impacts and technical solutions feasible for this novel method. 2) Currency (methods for quantifying damage): We will assess how the choice of currency (metrics to estimate biodiversity) influence biodiversity offset planning and performance. 3) Robustness of offsetting methods over time: We will develop long-term management plans for our case study and other types of biodiversity offsets based on expert knowledge and experience from national and international biodiversity offsets.

Our case study will be a unique novel large-scale long-term biodiversity offset project initiated in northern Sweden as a consequence of the expansion of the Aitik mine. To compensate for loss of ca 250 ha of forest with high or very high conservation values the Land and Environmental Court of Appeal decided that two offsets areas should be sets aside and that a large number (540) of dead wood substrate should be translocated (including associated insects, epiphytes and wood fungi) from the impact area to the compensation area. To allow for a scientific evaluation of this project we conducted baseline measures of insects, bryophytes and wood fungi in both impact and compensation areas as well as the reference landscape prior to the translocation in 2017. In addition, we have designed a field experiment were we vary the number of translocated dead wood substrates in 30 plots in the 400ha large compensation area. Beginning in 2018 we will monitor survival and spread of translocated species using trapping, field inventories and molecular methods with regular intervals.

Never before have deadwood translocation of this magnitude been undertaken making this project unique and we basically lack knowledge regarding the outcome of these translocation, i.e. if translocated species will survive and establish in the compensation area. But if the method is successful it could be extremely useful in biodiversity offsetting and ecological restoration.

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INTRO:
Case study of translocation dead wood and it`s effects on species.
MERITS:
Study will give information about the method of dead wood translocation and it`s effects of the species, thus gives information how useful method it would be in succesfull biodiversity offset and ecological restoration.
CRITIQUE:
Study is very interesting in terms of deadwood translocation effects on species. As an offset study it would be critical to estimate more the losses and gains, i.e. what are the losses of mine? only deadwood losses? The offset goal might not be NNL in Sweden but mention of that or that about partial offset would be relevant.
DISCUSSION:
As a long-term and a large-scale study this is an impressive. As a case study this will produce information about the practice which is essential. As an biodiversity offset study more estimations of the losses and gains would be profitable, but also a mention about partial offset or target is not NNL, would be enough to balance the study for the deadwood translocation and it`s effects on species.

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INTRO:
The authors present a case study of a systematically monitored large biodiversity offset. Part of the offset experiment is the translocation of dead wood and associated species (epiphytes, insects and fungi), and the experiment design incorporates different offset metrics and compensation levels to explore the success of biodiversity offsetting. Both impact and offset sites have been surveyed before development, development and transolation took place in 2017 and monitoring of offset sites is starting in 2018.
MERITS:
This represents a very interesting and rare case study of a systematically monitored biodiversity offset. The outcomes of this project are likely to be of high interest to audiences across the conservation sector. The scale and lenght of the project is quite impressive.
CRITIQUE:
In general the abstract reads well but could benefit from final polishing. It was not quite clear to me how the different metrics and robustness of offsets fit into the study design, that could be elaborated more. 'Unique novel large-scale long-term biodiversity offset project' is a bit of mouth full, maybe this could be said in fewer words? The first sentence of the last paragraph migh also be missing some words / needs re-phrasing.
DISCUSSION:
All in all, this is a very interesting project. It will be interesting to hear how the initial survey results on offset sites compare, althought given the short time since translocation, the final outcomes might not become clear for a while.

- - -
INTRO:
This study assesses biodiversity offsetting methodology through large-scale long-term case study in Sweden. The authors will be assessing how effective the translocation o woody debris to an offset site is at ensuring the persistence of translocated species present on the woody debris. This will be used to determine the effectiveness of this technique as an offsetting methodology.
MERITS:
This is a really interesting study with a novel approach. The methods are well described in this manuscript and the aim of the project clearly stated.
CRITIQUE:
No major weaknesses of problems.
DISCUSSION:
Offsets are being used more frequently around the globe. It is important to be researching novel ways of achieving effective offsets which compensate for both habitat lost and species specific impacts. This is a novel and interesting approach to offsetting that hasn't been seen before. The results will have implications for informing further research, particularly around offset currencies.

Biodiversity offsets: can we push the threshold for offsetable impacts by translocation of substrates and species?

Date:2018/06/14

Time:11:00

Room:K305 Alvar

Biodiversity offsets: can we push the threshold for offsetable impacts by translocation of substrates and species?

(Oral and Poster)

SEE PEER REVIEW

SEE PEER REVIEW

Date:
2018/06/14

Time:
11:00

Room:
K305 Alvar