Taming a Wicked Problem: Resolving Controversies in Biodiversity Offsetting

Maron, Martine, Ives, Christopher D., Kujala, Heini, Bull, Joseph, Maseyk, Fleur J. F., Bekessy, Sarah, Gordon, Ascelin, Watson, James E.M., Lentini, Pia E., Gibbons, Philip, and others. (2016) Taming a Wicked Problem: Resolving Controversies in Biodiversity Offsetting. BioScience, 66 (6). pp. 489-498. ISSN 0006-3568. E-ISSN 1525-3244. (doi:10.1093/biosci/biw038) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:63802)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biw038

Abstract

The rising popularity of biodiversity offsetting as a tool for balancing biodiversity losses from development with equivalent gains elsewhere has sparked debate on many fronts. The fundamental questions are the following: Is offsetting good, bad, or at least better than the status quo for biodiversity conservation outcomes, and what do we need to know to decide? We present a concise synthesis of the most contentious issues related to biodiversity offsetting, categorized as ethical, social, technical, or governance challenges. In each case, we discuss avenues for reducing disagreement over these issues and identify those that are likely to remain unresolved. We argue that there are many risks associated with the unscrutinized expansion of offset policy. Nevertheless, governments are increasingly adopting offset policies, so working rapidly to clarify and—where possible—to resolve these issues is essential.

Item Type:	Article
DOI/Identification number:	10.1093/biosci/biw038
Uncontrolled keywords:	biodiversity offsets, conservation policy, environmental ethics, environmental governance, no net loss
Divisions:	Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Depositing User:	Joseph Bull
Date Deposited:	05 Oct 2017 09:00 UTC
Last Modified:	05 Nov 2024 10:59 UTC
Resource URI:	https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/63802 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Bull, Joseph.

Creator's ORCID:	https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7337-8977
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