Biodiversity Offsetting case studies in Germany Friedrich Wulf Head, International Biodiversity Policy Pro Natura - Friends of the Earth Switzerland International Biodiversity Campaigner Friends of the Earth Europe CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
What to expect in this presentation: Scope and sources The German legislation on Interventions in nature and landscape General principle The regulation in the German Nature Conservation Act Some examples Comments on specific aspects Final Conclusions CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
3 Scope and source Own experience (1996-2008) Comments in the course of NGO participation (FoE, BL) Implementation assessment in 5 communities (2005-06) Quick survey among German practitioners: Administration (3) Interveners (Business, project owners) (2) Landscape architects, planning bureaeus (2) Lawyers (2) NGOs (2) University (1) CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
4 The German legislation on Interventions in nature and landscape CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
5 The German legislation on Interventions in nature and landscape Article 13 General principle Intervening parties shall primarily avoid any significant adverse effects on nature and landscape. Unavoidable significant adverse effects are to be offset via compensation measures (Ausgleichsmaßnahmen) or substitution measures (Ersatzmaßnahmen) or, where such offset is not possible, via monetary substitution. CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
6 The German legislation on Interventions in nature and landscape 1. Does the plan or Project cause significant impacts no on nature and landscape (See EIA, SEA etc.)? No objection yes - from a NC perspective, project can On with step 2 go ahead CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
7 The German legislation on Interventions in nature and landscape 2. Is the intervention happening as (part of) yes good agricultural, forestry or fishery practice ( § 14(2))? No objection – Good agri no practice helps nature (per def.) Regulation is applicable, on with step 3 CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
8 The German legislation on Interventions in nature and landscape 3. Can the impact be avoided (by minimisation yes or reasonable alternative solution/location) ( § 15(1))? Avoid impact and proceed no with project explain and proceed to step 4 CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
9 The German legislation on Interventions in nature and landscape 4. Can the impact be compensated (restoration yes of functions in same way) ( § 15(2))? Compensate for impact no and proceed with project proceed to step 5 CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
10 The German legislation on Interventions in nature and landscape 5. Can the impact be substitued (restoration of yes functions in equivalent way) ( § 15(2))? Substitute for impact no and proceed with project proceed to step 6 CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
11 The German legislation on Interventions in nature and landscape 6. Do the interests of the project override those of yes nature conservation Make a no substitution payment and proceed project may ( § 15(6)) not proceed ( § 15 (5)) CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
12 Extension of Bremen port (Container Terminal IV) CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
13 Extension of Bremen port (Container Terminal IV) Built 2004-2010 Authorisation procedure and compensation: 2001 2013 Reason for project: capacities of Bremen port will soon be exhausted (3050m length), so additional 1700 m (room for 4 ships) needed. Otherwise, shipping companies and jobs will move somewhere else CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
14 Extension of Bremen port (Container Terminal IV) Thorough EIA procedure: - Presentation of project and possible impacts on man and environment - Description of minimisation measures - Decription and Evaluation of Environmental impacts regarding people, air, climate, cultural and other goods, soil, water, habitats, species, protected areas Area was proposed by NGOs as Natura 2000, also contains several protected habitats CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
15 Extension of Bremen port (Container Terminal IV) Alternatives: Capacity and technical optimisation in situ already done No other alternative location possible - no reuse of built-up land - Wilhelmshaven: is a supplement to existing ports, doesn’t count - Building outside of the Land Bremen not acceptable for the city (no influence of the Land, (does not help jobs in Bremen)) NGOs: SEA for North German ports not done correctly! CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
16 Extension of Bremen port (Container Terminal IV) Land use on ca. 190 ha to be changed Mostly sublitotal and intertidal mud flats, but also reeds, halophilous grassland; 10 threatened plant species (red list); 6 red-listed breeding birds, 30+ migrating birds (of national importance for great ringed plover, black-headed gull, common gull, of regional importance for 7 more species) CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
17 Assessment of compensation need: state before CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
18 Assessment of compensation need: state after CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
19 Planned compensation: CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
20 Planned compensation: Compensation on site («Compensation») CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
21 Planned compensation: Compensation on site («Compensation») Compensation off site («Substitution») CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
22 Planned compensation: Compensation on site («Compensation») Compensation off site («Substitution») Major site for offsetting: Luneplate CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
23 Luneplate, Bremen CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
24 Luneplate, Bremen • 1000 ha converted for Nature Conservation purposes • 170 ha as compensation measures for CT IV CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
25 Luneplate, Bremen • New protected area (2013) • Formerly intensively used agricultural land CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
26 Minimisation and compensation measures for Motorway A 20, Mecklenburg- Vorpommern Mitigation of fragmentation: Bridges over wetland valleys Animal passes over A 20 CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
27 Minimisation and compensation measures for Motorway A 20, Mecklenburg- Vorpommern CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
28 Minimisation and compensation measures for Motorway A 20, Mecklenburg- Vorpommern • Creation of large peatland ecosystem • New habitats for rare and protected species (White-tailed eagle, Spotted eagle, Crane) • Measures: • Hydraulic engineering • Fencing (30 km, plus cattle grids) • Extensive grazing management CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
29 Renaturation of the mouth of the Kyll near Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
30 Renaturation of the mouth of the Kyll near Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
31 Renaturation of the mouth of the Kyll near Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
32 Renaturation of the mouth of the Kyll near Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate • 35 ha – renaturation • Aim: re-enable natural floodplain dynamics after one-time intervention • Compensation measures for 4 infrastructure projects – all in one CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
33 Final Conclusions Inventory of compensation areas - Bremen Compensation regulation is standard feature Does not stop projects or avoid impact on nature, but compensates CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
34 Implementation issues Compensation in 5 Communities in RLP All Building concessions from 1995-2000 CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
35 Comments on the Regulation Regulation is part of any authorisation procedure which can have impacts on nature and landscape EIA is standard feature (at least for bigger projects) Assessment and planning documents have to be elaborated by Intervenant Process is supervised and plan authorized by competent authority important to have qualified staff there (Ideally certification) NGO participation often improves quality of assessment (gaps, data) CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
36 Comments on the Regulation No certificates or markets involved, areas cannot be traded, compensation is a government- regulated, 1:1 exchange under clear conditions, according to an agreed plan. CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
37 Comments on the Regulation Avoidance: only the impact on nature should be avoided, not the project Real avoidance: by designing the project accordingly, mitigation Alternatives; Choosing best option CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
38 Motorway A 59 (Hessen) New itinerary: Saves crested newts Additional exit for city Saves 40 Mio EUR CEEweb Academy Budapest, 08.10.2013
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