Biodiversity Conservation and Habitat Management

Biodiversity Conservation and Habitat Management

• Habitat Definition: A terrestrial, freshwater, or marine geographical unit (including airways) supporting living organisms and their interactions with the non-living environment. Significance varies globally, regionally, and nationally, as well as in sensitivity to impacts and stakeholder importance.

• Habitat Categories: Habitat is categorized as modified, natural, or critical. Legally protected and internationally/regionally recognized areas of biodiversity are also considered. These may encompass habitats of any category.

• Mitigation Hierarchy: Biodiversity offsets are considered a last resort. Avoidance, minimization, and restoration efforts are prioritized before implementing offsets.

• Biodiversity Offsets: Designed to result in no net loss, ideally a net gain, in biodiversity. A net gain is required for projects impacting critical habitats. "Like-for-like or better" principle applies, aligned with GIIP.

• Offset Involvement: Stakeholders and experts in offset design & implementation are required for evaluation and long-term feasibility. Independent experts are necessary for residual impacts on critical habitats, ensuring a sustainable net gain.

• Unoffsetable Impacts: Certain residual adverse impacts are impossible to offset (if the area is unique/irreplaceable). In these cases, the project must be redesigned to eliminate the need for offsets.

Modified Habitats

• Modified Habitat Characteristics: Areas with substantial human modification (e.g., agriculture, plantations, reclaimed coastal/wetland zones). May contain significant non-native species. Modified habitats are only considered if they contain significant biodiversity value.

• Modified Habitat Management: Impact avoidance or minimization, as well as appropriate mitigation, is necessary for areas with significant biodiversity value.

Natural Habitats

• Natural Habitat Characteristics: Areas of largely native species, without substantial human modification of ecological function or species composition.

• Natural Habitat Management: Impacts must be avoided. If unavoidable:

• No technically/financially feasible alternatives exist

• Appropriate mitigation (including offsets) must be implemented to achieve no net loss (ideally a net gain).

Critical Habitats

• Critical Habitat Definition: Areas of high biodiversity importance such as those supporting endangered/critically endangered species, endemic or restricted-range species, significant concentrations of migratory/congregatory species, severely threatened ecosystems, and necessary ecological functions.

• Critical Habitat Management: Projects with potential for adverse impacts are only allowed if certain conditions are met:

• No viable alternatives exist.

• All necessary legal procedures (national & international) are followed.

• Potential impacts do not reduce biodiversity value.

• No net reduction in populations of endangered species over a reasonable time period.

• No significant habitat conversion/degradation.

• Project design aims for net biodiversity gain.

• Robust monitoring & evaluation programs for critical habitats are established and integrated into the management plan.

Protected/Internationally Recognized Areas

• Protected Areas: Project implementation must align with the area's legal protection status and management objectives. Potential adverse impacts must be identified, assessed and mitigated.

• Protected Areas - Project Requirements:

• Legal permission for the project is demonstrated.

• Project aligns with any existing management plans.

• Consultation and involvement of stakeholders (including Indigenous Peoples)

• Additional conservation programs are implemented if needed.

Invasive Alien Species

• Invasive Species Risk: Introduction of alien species is a significant biodiversity threat. Some can become invasive, quickly spreading and impacting native species.

• Invasive Species Prevention: Intentional introduction of new alien species is not permitted unless already part of the country's regulations; Deliberate introduction of high-risk invasive species is not permitted, even if regulations allow.

• Risk assessment for existing alien species is required. The species spread is to be managed within the project's area of control. If possible, eradicate alien species from natural habitats in that control area.

• Prevention of Accidental Introductions: Measures to prevent accidental introductions of alien species (e.g., managing substrates and vectors) are required.

Sustainable Management of Living Natural Resources

• Project Impact Assessment: Projects involving living natural resource harvesting must assess sustainability and potential impacts on habitats, biodiversity, and local communities (including Indigenous peoples).

• Sustainable Management Practices: Good management practices and available technologies should be utilized. Standards (global, regional or national) where applicable are followed by the project. Guidance documents (GIIP) are used if standards are absent.

• Small-Scale Producer Management: Small-scale producers are required to operate sustainably with incremental improvements in their practices. Potential for cumulative risks from multiple small-scale producers operating within the same area must be assessed.

• Commercial Agriculture/Forestry Plantations: Such projects should be established on already degraded or converted land, excluding land planned for the project. Projects should be designed to mitigate threats of invasive species and maintain biodiversity. Production forestry in natural forests must be managed sustainably.