Land Use 2021: Alberta Land Institute

Overview of Web Forum:

PRESENTING CURRENT TRENDS AND BEST PRACTICE
LINKING THEORY AND PRACTICE
STIMULATING INSIGHTFUL DISCUSSION

Biodiversity offsetting is the process of intentionally producing environmental gains to counterweigh the negative impacts of development on nature, with a goal of no net loss or net gain for biodiversity. Embedded as the final stage in a hierarchy of mitigation approaches, it is increasingly used as a policy tool in an attempt to reconcile development and environmental protection, both in Canada and many other countries around the world.

The last 20 years have seen an explosion of interest in the topic in policy circles, among development planners and in academia. Organizations such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the Business and Biodiversity Offset Programme, the Cross-Sector Biodiversity Initiative and the International Association for Impact Assessment have worked to articulate a set of principles and good practices to properly and effectively apply offsetting. Despite this, the offsetting remains a risky and controversial approach to environmental protection. Many aspects of it are poorly understood or inconsistently applied.

To help advance thinking, policy and practice respecting biodiversity offsetting, the Alberta Land Institute is presenting a series of web-based presentations and discussions to improve understanding regarding current thinking and good practices in offsetting. We will be engaging academic experts, practitioners, policy-makers and stakeholders in insightful discussions that aim to link the theory and practice of practice of offsetting for biodiversity.

We will draw on theory and practice to promote dialogue aimed at better and more consistent offsetting as a means of creating a better environmental future.

The series will be relevant to both a Canadian and international audience. The sessions are designed to be of value to offset experts, practitioners, policy-makers and interested stakeholders.

Summary report - download the full report (all the sessions in a written form)

Learn more about Biodiversity Offsetting

Watch our Biodiversity Offsets 101 webinar.

Learn more about the individual sessions:

Download the Forum Details (pdf of the 8-week program)

Session one: Putting Biodiversity Offsetting in its Place - Giving Meaning and Teeth to the Mitigation Hierarchy and Limits to Offsetting

April 19, 2021 (Monday) - 2 to 3:30 PM MDT

Session Leader: Martine Maron, University of Queensland

Session two: No Net Loss in a Changing Landscape

April 26, 2021 (Monday) - 10 to 11:30 AM MDT

Session leaders: Fabien Quetier, Biotope; Marian Weber, British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Eric Higgs, University of Victoria

Session three: Beyond Multipliers - Managing the Risks of Offsetting

May 3, 2021 (Monday) - 10 to 11:30 AM MDT

Session leader: Joseph Bull, University of Kent

Session four: Aligning Carbon and Biodiversity Offsets

May 10, 2021 (Monday) - 10 to 11:30 AM MDT

Session leader: Stewart Elgie, University of Ottawa

Session five: Offsetting as if People Mattered - Social Aspects of Biodiversity Offsetting

May 17, 2021 (Monday) - 10 to 11:30 AM MDT

Session Leader: Victoria Griffiths, The Landscapes and Liveliehoods Group

Session six: Making Offset Credit Banking Work

May 31, 2021 (Monday) - 3 to 4:30 PM MDT

Session leader: Amy Taylor, Green Analytics