Biodiversity Offsets

Abstract

Biodiversity represents the variety of life on Earth, including the full range of ecosystems, species, and genes. Biodiversity conservation efforts to date have achieved a great deal to help secure the continued functioning of many threatened ecosystems and the survival of numerous species. Biodiversity offsets can: (i) improve the conservation outcomes from large-scale development projects, and (ii) provide much-needed funding for protected areas and similar conservation efforts. This user guide provides introductory guidance on whether, when, and how to prepare and implement biodiversity offsets for large-scale, private, and public sector development projects. It also explores some of the opportunities that may exist for developing national biodiversity offset systems.