Can Offsets Be Used to Achieve Recovery Objectives for Species at Risk?

Can Offsets Be Used to Achieve Recovery Objectives for
Species at Risk?
David Browne
Candian Wildlife Federation

CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca

FederationCanadiennedelaFaune.ca

Goals of Biodiversity Conservation:
Keep common species common

Make threatened and declining species
common again


1.

Applicability to species at risk will be limited.

2.

Where offsets are found to be applicable the program must be
driven by the recovery strategy and be subject to a much higher
burden of proof than for common species.

3.

Not all activities are able to be offset. When they cannot be and
the species is jeopardized we must be transparent about net loss
situations.


Why limited?
1. Working within the risk level of impacts that are not able to be
offset.
2. Some types of tools are likely not applicable: in-lieu fees;
averted loss will in many cases not be consistent with recovery.
3. Knowledge of species and restoration techniques is poor.


Characteristics of Species at Risk:
• Little or no evidence that we can
restore the habitat or reintroduce
the species
• Long generation times or require
mature old growth habitats
• Complexities around what is the
unit of measure; species or
ecosystem
Pilgrim et al. 2013

Many species at risk lie within
the zone of low likelihood of
success and high
conservation concern
Where success likelihood is a
function of:
 Residual impact magnitude
 Offset opportunity
 Offset feasibility

Pilgrim et al. 2013

In the species at risk context:



In-lieu fees are payment for net loss not an offset
Averted loss assumes a declining habitat baseline and would
only be applicable in specific scenarios.


History of fish and wildlife biology and restoration ecology is
that common species and habitats, often with some type of
human use, are the most studied and understood.
For species at risk:
Basic biology of many species is not known thus uncertainty is
very high and multipliers will be correspondingly high:




Missing knowledge: for example 38% of recovery strategies
have no information on population trend
High uncertainty: Review of restoration of old growth habitat
suggests multipliers of 20:1 to 100:1 would be most
appropriate given uncertainty of outcomes. (Curran et al. 2014)

Burrowing Owl Recovery Strategy Knowledge Gaps:
“Several important knowledge gaps still exist for Burrowing Owls in
Canada. Currently, information that is unknown but required to adequately
address threats and recovery objectives includes”

1) Locations of the majority of Burrowing Owl nests in Canada;
2) Survival rates of the owls at life stages for which adequate data currently does not exist (e.g.
juveniles during migration, adults during all seasons);
3) Extent and impact of between-year dispersal by juveniles and adults;
4) Quantitative habitat associations of Burrowing Owls, at multiple scales, during all seasons;
5) Quantitative assessments of any relationships between habitat loss and population decreases;
6) Best methods, numbers, and distribution for release of captive-bred owls to establish a selfperpetuating population in British Columbia and Manitoba;
7) Effects of a variety of environmental contaminants on reproduction and survival during
breeding and non-breeding seasons;
8) Migratory routes used and winter range of “Canadian” owls; and
9) Improved survey methods for both breeding and wintering populations.


If offsetting is embedded in and contingent upon the Recovery
Strategy and Action Plan process and subject to an effective and
enforceable monitoring and evaluation program.
Recovery Strategy:
1.
Clearly define the recovered state
2.
Assess the applicability of offsets to achieving recovery
objectives
◦ Techniques exist that provide greater than 95% certainty that
habitat restoration or creation, or species reintroduction will
be successful at meeting population metrics
◦ Opportunities for both impact and offset exist within the
same conservation unit such that there can be a net gain to
the species

If offsetting is embedded in and contingent upon the Recovery
Strategy and Action Plan process and subject to an effective and
enforceable monitoring and evaluation program.
Action Plan:
 Sets out the framework for offsets
 Set criteria for permitting harm (eg. that an offset must be
shown to be functional before harm is undertaken)

 Designate and describe acceptable techniques
 Set standards for monitoring and evaluation


U.S. ESA Conservation Bank guidance
document:

an appropriate function of conservation
banks is the preservation of existing habitat
with long-term conservation value to mitigate
loss of other isolated and fragmented habitat
that has no long-term value to the species.


California red-legged
frog core areas map





Actions that jeopardize the recovery of a species by, for
example, protecting one area of habitat while destroying
another are not offsets they are a threat to the species.
Not all impacts will be able to be offset. When they cannot be
and the species is jeopardized we must be transparent about
net loss situations and use the language of penalty for harm
to the species.


Can Offsets Be Used to Achieve Recovery Objectives
for Species at Risk?


Can Offsets Be Used to Achieve Recovery Objectives
for Species at Risk?
Perhaps

In specific cases under strict conditions where the net gain is
clearly quantifiable and consistent with the recovery objective.




At present there is insufficient evidence globally to determine
whether offsets will or will not work for species at risk in
Canada.
On the other hand progress to date on recovering species in
Canada, particularly on private land, has been minimal and
new approaches are needed

Can Offsets Be Used to Achieve Recovery Objectives for Species at Risk?

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Can Offsets Be Used to Achieve Recovery Objectives for Species at Risk?