Tracking the origins and development of biodiversity offsetting in academic research and its implications for conservation: A review

摘要: Abstract Spurred by recent initiatives aimed at achieving “No Net Loss” of biodiversity, the concept biodiversity offsetting (henceforth BO) is growing in popularity political, business, conservation and academic arenas. Promising to make economic development compatible with conservation, BO mechanisms appear as new tool for they are increasingly integrated into agendas strategies biodiversity. The has also become popular scholars but it still highly debated particular its ecological consequences. Moreover, this enthusiasm led confusion especially on emergence sphere, implications conservation. This article addresses these issues. It examines origins, characteristics dynamics output highlights main drivers development, finally conclude practice. We carried out a systematic literature review based thorough scientometric analyses scientific recorded Web Science database over past three decades (1984–2014). Through analysis 477 articles we identified stages topic academia, highlighted influence specific countries, authors, research areas articles. found that non-academic institutions were particularly influential, notably environmental non-governmental organizations. Furthermore, major change decade topics lexicon related BO, which moved from ecologically-driven approaches an market lexicon. Overall, use rhetoric frame discourse resulting political rather than actual progress or sciences. trend seems aligned movement using justify achieve goals. Caught strong normative current supported view nature, argue not neutral therefore advocate wise careful mechanism practice, further be examine theoretical practical dimensions ethical underlying development.