Overview of the South African framework for Biodiversity Offsets

Transcription

1 Overview of the South African framework for Biodiversity Offsets BBOP Community of Practice, 22 May 2013 Jeffrey Manuel Biodiversity Planning and Mainstreaming Jeffrey Manuel Biodiversity Planning and Policy Advice

2 fundamental BD offsets concepts for S.A.

3 Desired Outcomes of Biodiversity Offsets Contribute through protection and appropriate management Ecosystem approach Area by condition ratios managed drawdown; trading loss for protection To ensure cumulative impacts do not compromise BD persistence & representivity NNL (species) not practicable Landscape context; Meet biodiversity targets rely on systematic biodiversity planning Implicitly cater for background loss

4 Langkloof Shale Renosterveld Cape Vernal Pools Kouebokkeveld Alluvium Fynbos Bushmanland Vloere Citrusdal Vygieveld Eastern Lower Karoo Grootrivier Quartzite Fynbos Kamiesberg Mountains Shrubland Knersvlakte Dolomite Vygieveld Namaqualand Blomveld Namaqualand Salt Pans Namaqualand Seashore Vegetation Robertson Granite Renosterveld Vanrhynsdorp Gannabosveld Piketberg Quartz Succulent Shrubland Swartland Alluvium Renosterveld Western R ens Shale Renosterveld Mossel Bay Shale Renosterveld Breede Quartzite Fynbos Eastern Upper Karoo Eastern Little Karoo Breede Alluvium Renosterveld R ens Silcrete Renosterveld Uniondale Shale Renosterveld Southern Karoo Riviere Garden Route Granite Fynbos Swartland Granite Renosterveld Swartland Shale Renosterveld Willowmore Gwarrieveld Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Robertson Karoo Namaqualand Klipkoppe Shrubland Breede Sand Fynbos Swartland Alluvium Fynbos Atlantis Sand Fynbos Montagu Shale Renosterveld Roggeveld Shale Renosterveld Hopefield Sand Fynbos Cape Coastal Lagoons Swartruggens Quartzite Fynbos Swellendam Silcrete Fynbos Gamka Karoo Namaqualand Riviere Potberg Ferricrete Fynbos Prince Albert Succulent Karoo Southern Coastal Forest Agulhas Sand Fynbos Agulhas Limestone Fynbos Western Gwarrieveld Swartberg Shale Renosterveld Swartberg Shale Fynbos Cape Flats Dune Strandveld North Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos South Kammanassie Sandstone Fynbos Gamka Thicket Boland Granite Fynbos Upper Karoo Hardeveld Swartruggens Quartzite Karoo Saldanha Flats Strandveld Northern Knersvlakte Vygieveld Hangklip Sand Fynbos North Sonderend Sandstone Fynbos South Langeberg Sandstone Fynbos Kouga Sandstone Fynbos Central Coastal Shale Band Vegetation Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos Tanqua Wash Riviere Knersvlakte Quartz Vygieveld Overberg Dune Strandveld Matjiesfontein Shale Fynbos North Hex Sandstone Fynbos North Rooiberg Sandstone Fynbos South Outeniqua Sandstone Fynbos Peninsula Granite Fynbos Eastern Coastal Shale Band Vegetation Cape Lowland Freshwater Wetlands Cape Estuarine Salt Marshes South Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos Tsitsikamma Sandstone Fynbos Central Inland Shale Band Vegetation North Swartberg Sandstone Fynbos Peninsula Sandstone Fynbos Biodiversity targets, Ecosystem protection and threat status 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% Conservation Threshold (CR) Conservation Threshold (EN) Conservation Threshold (VU) Conservation Threshold (LT) 50% % of total extent formally conserved 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

5 Voluntary or Mandatory?

6 Voluntary or Mandatory Offsets Voluntary offsets do not exist in practice in SA. Offsets system not mandatory in terms of law. Individual offsets are mandatory, through EIA regulation. Mitigation hierarchy + polluter pays Mandatory, through other sectoral regulatory processes. Use the same process as our proven voluntary conservation system Offsets do not benefit from State assistance

7 Voluntary system (Stewardship) Biodiversity Offsets

8 Offset design

9 Offset triggers: likelihood of an offset being required

10 Offset triggers: Likelihood of an offset being required (assuming significant residual impact) Residual negative impacts unacceptable. Fatal flaw. No development. no offset. Proclaimed PA CBA Irreplaceable Irr hab Irr EI/ES CR EN VU LT OFFSET REQUIRED Residual negative impacts are not considered to be significant, so no offset required CBA Best design Ecological Support Area Other Natural Area Habitat for rare/threatened species Natural Areas delivering Key ecosystem services

11 Offset design: context; identifying appropriate options

12 Offset design: Hierarchy of offset receiving areas CR and EN Ecosystems Critical Biodiversity Areas Ecological Support Areas Focus areas for PA Expansion

13 Offset design: context; identifying appropriate options Like for like/ better? Landscape perspective Connectivity CC Adaptation De facto aggregation Restoration problematic

14 Offset calculation*: Metric building blocks Systematic priorities Metrics Ecosystem Threat Status Impact area condition Ecosystem Protection Level Special Habitats Threat of Irreversible loss Threat. Species Ecological Processes Ecosystem Service Habitat condition Risk to population Process Quality Dependence Multipliers Impact on efficiency of CBA network Risk of offset non-delivery

15 Offset calculation*: GP Ratios example

16 Implementation

17 Timing: Timeline for Offsets policy development in SA IAIA discussion on offsets cases IAIA discussion on National Framework BBOPpartnered training and IAIA discussion NPFBO inception workshop NPFBO draft 1 submitted to DEA WCape draft Guideline Wcape Treasury opinion City of Cape Town legal opinion City of Cape Town Draft Policy statement KZN draft Guideline Gauteng concept for strategy & guideline initiation SANBI initiates wetlands offsets metrics development Wetland offsets metrics draft 1 finalised

18 Implementation 20+ offsets approved through applications Offsets = condition of authorisation; onus on applicant No offset fully secured yet. Equally applicable to pvt and public sector Conservation banking not enabled Under investigation for piloting Crawl, then walk

19 Lessons Learnt

20 Metrics (or better science) is not the obstacle! Recognising offsets as mitigation Not an add-on requirement Land acquisition issues Structuring Financial provision of management costs Guarantee of performance/security Legal framework not explicit Historically not required for EIA Require amendment to law/regulation

21 Discussion / Question