View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Has a dedicated biodiversity offsets policy improved the environmental and social compensation outcomes of development in Australia?

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Has a dedicated biodiversity offsets policy improved the environmental and social compensation outcomes of development in Australia?
Authors: Abdo, Linda J.1 (AUTHOR) lindajabdo@gmail.com, Griffin, Sandy2 (AUTHOR), Kemp, Annabeth3 (AUTHOR), Coupland, Grey4 (AUTHOR)
Source: Environment, Development & Sustainability. Apr2026, Vol. 28 Issue 4, p9139-9164. 26p.
Subject Terms: *Environmental policy, *Wildlife conservation, *Ecosystem services, *Restoration ecology, *Environmental impact analysis, *Sustainable development
Geographic Terms: Australia
Abstract: Biodiversity offsets are used worldwide to provide environmental compensation for the impacts of development and to meet the goals of sustainable development. Australia has embraced the use of offsets and its offset methodologies have been used as models by other jurisdictions. However, the maturity of offset requirements in Australia is unknown. To understand this, development referrals submitted under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) between October 2011 and September 2017 were reviewed to determine if offset requirements in Australia were improving in complexity, transparency and/or environmental outcomes (termed maturity) over time. Despite the implementation of dedicated policy in Australia in 2012, our analysis showed that offset requirements were not on a trajectory towards improvement (maturity) over the 6-year period examined. There was no evidence to suggest the type of offsets required and compensation for impacts to specific species and habitats increased in complexity over time. The level of detail included for offset requirements, mandatory commencement dates and requirements for ecological outcomes similarly did not increase over time. Consequently, dedicated legislation for offsets is recommended to remedy these omissions and enable effective functionality for biodiversity offsets through the protection of the environment and conservation of biodiversity, ecosystem function and ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 192726268
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Has a dedicated biodiversity offsets policy improved the environmental and social compensation outcomes of development in Australia?
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abdo%2C+Linda+J%2E%22">Abdo, Linda J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> lindajabdo@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Griffin%2C+Sandy%22">Griffin, Sandy</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kemp%2C+Annabeth%22">Kemp, Annabeth</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Coupland%2C+Grey%22">Coupland, Grey</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Environment%2C+Development+%26+Sustainability%22">Environment, Development & Sustainability</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 28 Issue 4, p9139-9164. 26p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+policy%22">Environmental policy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wildlife+conservation%22">Wildlife conservation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecosystem+services%22">Ecosystem services</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Restoration+ecology%22">Restoration ecology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+impact+analysis%22">Environmental impact analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sustainable+development%22">Sustainable development</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Biodiversity offsets are used worldwide to provide environmental compensation for the impacts of development and to meet the goals of sustainable development. Australia has embraced the use of offsets and its offset methodologies have been used as models by other jurisdictions. However, the maturity of offset requirements in Australia is unknown. To understand this, development referrals submitted under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth) between October 2011 and September 2017 were reviewed to determine if offset requirements in Australia were improving in complexity, transparency and/or environmental outcomes (termed maturity) over time. Despite the implementation of dedicated policy in Australia in 2012, our analysis showed that offset requirements were not on a trajectory towards improvement (maturity) over the 6-year period examined. There was no evidence to suggest the type of offsets required and compensation for impacts to specific species and habitats increased in complexity over time. The level of detail included for offset requirements, mandatory commencement dates and requirements for ecological outcomes similarly did not increase over time. Consequently, dedicated legislation for offsets is recommended to remedy these omissions and enable effective functionality for biodiversity offsets through the protection of the environment and conservation of biodiversity, ecosystem function and ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=enr&AN=192726268
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10668-024-05108-0
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 26
        StartPage: 9139
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Environmental policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Wildlife conservation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ecosystem services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Restoration ecology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Environmental impact analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sustainable development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Australia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Has a dedicated biodiversity offsets policy improved the environmental and social compensation outcomes of development in Australia?
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Abdo, Linda J.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Griffin, Sandy
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kemp, Annabeth
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Coupland, Grey
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: Apr2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1387585X
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 28
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Environment, Development & Sustainability
              Type: main
ResultId 1