Biodiversity offsets in EIA: Getting the timing right

摘要: Abstract Major developments can result in significant impacts on biodiversity, which the mandated process of environmental impact assessment (EIA) aims to mitigate. There has been a recent move towards application biodiversity offsets as last-resort, compensatory measure when options at earlier stages mitigation hierarchy avoidance, minimisation and restoration have exhausted. Guidance offset planning available different jurisdictions, however, demonstrates lack consensus about should be formally introduced into EIA process, previous research highlighted perceived risks associated with commencing detailed too early well late. Here we explore implications how considerations are within EIA. We do this by reviewing synthesising best practice principles for from international literature, then exploring were considered number case studies that draw documentary analysis interviews key role players. Our based South Africa where regional guidance exists, supporting body practice. The finds timing involvement specialists is critical determining whether considering will reap combined benefits of: transparency stakeholder engagement; guaranteeing before development commences; enforceability without jeopardising adherence hierarchy. Bypassing was allowing proponents ‘buy’ approvals might otherwise found unacceptable, although there no evidence any evaluated. Although some our findings may specific African context, approach taken using benchmark equally applied evaluate other systems. confirm utility evaluating recently released Draft National Biodiversity Offset Policy its potential support