Written by Dan Kraus, Manager, Conservation Science and Planning, Nature Conservancy of Canada

1. Factors Driving Biodiversity Offsets
The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s
Biodiversity Benefits Program Standards
University of Ottawa
13 February 2014
Dan Kraus, Manager of Conservation Science & Planning
Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ontario Region

2. Summary of Presentation
1.
2.
3.
Factors driving biodiversity offsets
Developing NCC standards of
practice
Early experiences and challenges
Wild Hyacinth
Threatened
Restricted to Western Lake Erie Islands

3. Westbridge Mountains


Over 1 million ha protected
across Canada
NCC owns and manages
habitat for 26% of Canada’s
Species at Risk
Cockburn Island
Missouri Coteau

4. 


Leading some of the largest
restoration projects in Canada
Conservation Volunteer
program that engages
communities
Lead large-scale biodiversity
planning initiatives

5. Factors Driving Biodiversity Offsets
Ecosystem Status &
Trends in Canada
• 70% of prairie
grasslands lost
• 200,000 km2 of
wetland lost prior to
1990

6. Factors Driving Biodiversity Offsets


Increasing response to
protect and restore
nature,
Yet, the overall state of
biodiversity continues
to deteriorate and
threats continue to
increase.

7. Factors Driving Biodiversity Offsets
1.
2.
3.
Voluntary
Regulatory
Carbon
Wood Turtle
Endangered
Ontario/Canada/IUCN Red List

8. Voluntary Offsets
NCC Founders
1962
Point Pelee National Park
Established 1918

9. Voluntary Offsets

10. Voluntary Offsets

11. Regulatory Offsets



Federal Fisheries Act
Federal Wetland Policy
Endangered Species Act
(Ontario)
King Rail
Endangered in Canada and Ontario

12. DRAFTING NCC STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
Working Principles
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Adherence to mitigation hierarchy
Limits to offsets
Significant net gain
Additional conservation outcomes
Long-term outcomes
Geography of offsets
All-in costing
Community engagement
Equity
Transparency and standards
Science and local knowledge

13. Experiences & Challenges

14. Challenges & Opportunities
1.
2.
3.
How can we reduce risk and uncertainty?
How can we best match biodiversity offset funding
with priority projects?
How do we measure biodiversity offsets?

15. Challenges & Opportunities
How can we reduce
risk and uncertainty?
Globally Rare Alvar Habitat
Carden Plain

16. Challenges & Opportunities
How can we best
match biodiversity
offset funding with
priority projects?

17. Challenges & Opportunities
How can we measure
biodiversity offsets?
Prescribed Fires for Prairie Management
and Grassland Bird Habitat Restoration
Rice Lake Plains

18. Existing Site
Viability assessment/ description1
Proposed Offset
Viability assessment/ description
Net Gain
Size
POOR-FAIR
- approximately 50 acres of
cultural meadow in
discontinuous blocks
Condition
FAIR
- cultural meadow
- site currently not managed for
conservation
GOOD
-at least 60 acres of new breeding habitat for
Bobolink, and other grassland birds will be
restored on secured conservation land
- 30 additional acres of alvar will be secured
VERY GOOD
- native alvar grassland habitat with longterm management to maintain these
conditions
Landscape
Context
POOR
- located within the urban limits
-no other large patches of
grassland in vicinity
-<50 acres of other grasslands
within 1 km
- within an agricultural and
urbanizing landscape
Increase in the amount of
breeding habitat by 40 acres
. Restored habitat for Bobolink
will be in one continuous
block.
Increase in alvar grassland
that will be managed for
grassland birds and for the
benefit other species and
communities at risk.
New grassland habitats will be
created within a key area for
grassland bird conservation in
Ontario.
VERY GOOD
- offset will be located in the Carden Alvar,
one of the largest natural grasslands in
Ontario, with one of the highest relative
densities of Bobolink in Ontario
- at least 500 acres of additional grasslands
will be within 1 km of the site
- patch size (restored area plus existing alvar
grassland will be over 200 acres)
- the project site is over 1 km from a road,
and over 3 km away from a major road.

21. Dan Kraus, Nature Conservancy of Canada
dan.kraus@natureconservancy.ca
BLOG: Search “NCC Land Lines”