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Introduction – Aspects of compensation in nature conservation and water law

Compensating Encroachments on Nature and Aquatic Environment The Example of the German Mitigation and Offset Regime Dr. Moritz Reese, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. Introduction – Aspects of compensation in nature conservation and water law.

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Introduction – Aspects of compensation in nature conservation and water law

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  1. Compensating Encroachments on Nature and Aquatic Environment The Example of the German Mitigation and Offset Regime Dr. Moritz Reese, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research

  2. Introduction – Aspects of compensation in nature conservation and water law • Compensatingrestrictions on theusers • Delineationbetweenpropertyrightsandpublicinterests • Agriculture: GAP subsidies, cross-complianceandcontractualconservationmeasures • Compensationbetweencompetingwateruses & tradingwaterrights • Compensatingencroachments on theenvironment • The EU Framework: Art. 6.4 FFH-Directive, ELD, WFD qualityapproach • The German impactpreventionandoffsetregime

  3. The German Impact Prevention and Offset RegimeThe basic idea • Ubiquitouslyapplyingobligationtoprimarilyprevent/ mitigateand, otherwise, offsetdetrimentalimpacts • Protectionofspecialhabitatsandspeciesis not sufficienttosave ournature. • Itisnecessaryto also provide a ubiquitousminimumlevelofnatureprotectionandto • preventnetlossin natureandlandscapewhile, atthe same time, • providingflexiblityforefficientreconcilementofnatureconservationandlanduseinterests.

  4. The German Intervention Prevention & Offset SchemeThe Basic Concept Avoidencroachments on nature & landscape not feasibleatproprotionatecosts Real offsetorfunctionalsurrogate Offset not feasible Weightingofconflictinginterestes Nature prevails Project prevails Monetarycompensation. Project inadmissable

  5. The German Impact Prevention and Offset Regime The Boost: Eco-Banking and Trading • Anticipatory & remote offsetregardlessof a specificproject • Enables flexible andcost-efficientintegrationof land-useinterests • Providesincentivesforlandownerstousesuitablelandasoffsetarea • Enables the assimilation of large funds for the creation and management of habitats BUT: Risks of selling-out and downgrading! – Strong regulatory framework needed.

  6. The German Impact Mitigation and Offset RegimeBasic safeguards against selling-out and downgrading • Strict & meaningfulequivalencecriteria; Concreteandpracticaloffsetevaluationcriteriaandguidlines • Spatialcoherencyrequirement:primacyofonsitemitigation, remote measurescanonlycompensateforinterventions in the same „naturalarea“ • Additionalityrequirement:restorationmeasuresareonlyeligibleasoffsetif not obligedby (other) lawsand not subsidised • Effectivecomplianceregime: Implementation issupervisedunder a strictregisterandmonitoringregime

  7. The German Impact Offset and Banking RegimeStrong role of spatial and landscape planning • Urban developmentplansaretoanticipatetheoffsetforfutureencroachmentsadmissableunderthe plan. • Landscape-Planningregimeas a crucialbasisfortheintegrationofoffsetbankinginto regional conservationconceptsand, in particular, for • Supplementing Natura 2000 networkthroughthedevelopmenthabitatcorridors, connectingelementsandmigrationreserves • Inclusionintowatermanagement (?)

  8. The German Impact Prevention and Offset RegimeApplicability in Water Management • Offset regime also applicable to all structural encroachments on water bodies and wet lands • Great potenial for restoration of ecologic status, in particular, by „stepping stone approach“ • Unclear relationship to water management instruments • Recently new attemps to deploy compensation scheme in water management.

  9. Conclusions • Habitat offsetandbankingcancontribute a lottoprotectingnatureand also aquatichabitatsandlandscapesunderthefollowingpreconditions: • A ubiquitouslybindingmitigationsequenceregardingencroachments on ecologicfunctionsandservices, • A strong regulatoryframeworkandtechnicalcriteriaensuringequivalence, additionalityand due implementationofoffset, • Integration intospatialplanningasmeansofgearingoffsettowardsefficientlandusearrangements • Sufficient administrative capacitiesorequivalent private controleschemes

  10. Thank you!

  11. 2. The Concept of Habitat Offset and BankingReferences • US wetland mitigation banking scheme • UK environment loss mitigation regime + Environment Bank • German impact avoidance and offset regime (since 1976) • Swiss Natur- und Heimatschutzgesetz (18) • EU: considerations on the introduction of MBIs into nature protection regimes

  12. 4. Habitat Banking within Natura 2000An option under Article 16 (1) ? • ExemptionsregimeunderArticle 16 similarlystrictas Art. 6 (4) • Obligation topreservethe „localpopulation“ limits remote offset • Commission: noexemptionfromkillingprohibition in Art. 12 •  Very limited flexibility, nosignificantroomforbanking &trading

  13. The Example of the German Nature Impact Prevention and Offset Regime • Article 14 Nature ConservationAct • Interventions in nature and landscape • Interventions in nature and landscape, as defined in this Act, shall refer to any changes affecting the shape or use of ground areas, or changes in the groundwater level, which may significantly impair the performance and functioning of nature or landscape appearance.

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