Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Written by Dan Kraus, Manager, Conservation Science and Planning, Nature Conservancy of Canada
Citation preview
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
Summary of Presentation
1. Factors driving biodiversity offsets 2. Developing NCC standards of
practice 3. Early experiences and challenges
Wild Hyacinth Threatened
Restricted to Western Lake Erie Islands
Over 1 million ha protected
across Canada NCC owns and manages
habitat for 26% of Canada’s Species at Risk
Westbridge Mountains
Cockburn Island
Missouri Coteau
Leading some of the largest restoration projects in Canada
Conservation Volunteer program that engages communities
Lead large-scale biodiversity planning initiatives
Factors Driving Biodiversity Offsets
Ecosystem Status & Trends in Canada
• 70% of prairie grasslands lost
• 200,000 km2 of wetland lost prior to 1990
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.
Factors Driving Biodiversity Offsets
1. Voluntary 2. Regulatory 3. Carbon
Wood Turtle Endangered
Ontario/Canada/IUCN Red List
Voluntary Offsets
Point Pelee National Park Established 1918
NCC Founders 1962
Voluntary Offsets
Voluntary Offsets
Regulatory Offsets
Federal Fisheries Act Federal Wetland Policy Endangered Species Act
(Ontario)
King Rail Endangered in Canada and Ontario
DRAFTING NCC STANDARDS OF PRACTICE Working Principles 1. Adherence to mitigation hierarchy 2. Limits to offsets 3. Significant net gain 4. Additional conservation outcomes 5. Long-term outcomes 6. Geography of offsets 7. All-in costing 8. Community engagement 9. Equity 10. Transparency and standards 11. Science and local knowledge
Experiences & Challenges
Challenges & Opportunities 1. How can we reduce risk and uncertainty? 2. How can we best match biodiversity offset funding
with priority projects? 3. How do we measure biodiversity offsets?
Challenges & Opportunities
How can we reduce risk and uncertainty?
Globally Rare Alvar Habitat Carden Plain
Challenges & Opportunities
How can we best match biodiversity offset funding with priority projects?
Challenges & Opportunities
How can we measure biodiversity offsets?
Prescribed Fires for Prairie Management and Grassland Bird Habitat Restoration
Rice Lake Plains
Existing Site Viability assessment/ description1
Proposed Offset Viability assessment/ description
Net Gain
Size POOR-FAIR - approximately 50 acres of cultural meadow in discontinuous blocks
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
Increase in the amount of breeding habitat by 40 acres . Restored habitat for Bobolink will be in one continuous block.
Condition FAIR - cultural meadow - site currently not managed for conservation
VERY GOOD - native alvar grassland habitat with long-term management to maintain these conditions
Increase in alvar grassland that will be managed for grassland birds and for the benefit other species and communities at risk.
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
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.
New grassland habitats will be created within a key area for grassland bird conservation in Ontario.
