Designing a system to offset for the residual impacts of terrestrial development

Towards no net loss, and beyond – Workshop 3:

Designing a system to offset for the residual impacts of terrestrial development on ecosystem service provision

Charles Darwin House, London. 7 December 2010.

The third ‘Towards no net loss, and beyond’ workshop brought together 35 representatives of the public policy, conservation, and business communities to assess the potential to offset for ecosystem services alongside biodiversity.

Questions addressed by the workshop included:

• To what extent could the use of biodiversity offsetting provide compensation for ecosystem service loss?
• How could optimal systems to offset for ecosystem service provision be designed and implemented?

Event documentation

Summary report for policy makers: Designing a system to offset for the residual impacts of terrestrial development on ecosystem service provision (320 KB pdf)

Case studies: 3 fictitious case studies to stimulate discussion (255 KB pdf)

Briefing note (254 KB pdf)

Programme

Note that presentations are for viewing on the website and may not be copied or circulated. The authors and/or their employers retain copyright.

Introduction

• Welcome and purpose of the day
  Bruce Howard, NCI
• Introduction from the Chair
  Professor Penny Anderson (Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management)
• Overview of biodiversity offsetting
  Dr. Stewart Thompson (Oxford Brookes University)
• 5 key messages from ‘Towards no net loss, and beyond’ Workshops One and Two
  Dr. Bruce Howard (NCI)
• Overview of built development in the UK – how are environmental impacts taken into account?
  Jon Grantham (Land Use Consultants)

Task and Finish group start-up

• Framing the question to be addressed
  Task and Finish group facilitators

Task and Finish group briefing talks

• Restoration of ecosystem services in practice
  Prof. Rosie Hails (NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)
• Provision of ecosystem service information at the local level
  Prof. Jim Harris (Cranfield University)
• Discussion on links between ecosystem services and biodiversity

Task and Finish group start-up

• Group working (continue in the same groups as in the morning).
  Task and Finish group facilitators

Task and Finish group start-up

• Plenary feedback – structured report back
  Task and Finish group facilitators
• Chair’s summary and close Penny Anderson

Financial support

Workshops 2 and 3 were supported by the Connect A funding scheme of the Natural Environment Research Council.