Biodiversity Offsets
A biodiversity offset is a conservation strategy designed to compensate for the loss of biodiversity resulting from development or land-use changes. It aims to achieve no net loss, or a net gain, of biodiversity by ensuring that any environmental impacts caused by a project are counterbalanced by activities that improve biodiversity elsewhere. This typically involves restoring or enhancing ecosystems or habitats to offset the negative effects of development. Biodiversity offsets are usually implemented when it is not feasible to fully avoid or minimize the impact on biodiversity during project planning. The goal is to provide a tangible, ecological benefit that can restore or improve biodiversity, while still allowing necessary economic and infrastructure development. Conservation Outcomes is involved in biodiversity offsets as a mechanism to secure further protected areas and ensure their sustainable management. Conservation Outcomes is currently working on the following offsets –
- Fairbreeze Mine offset – Mtunzini, KZN
- Leghoya Wind Farm, Ermelo, Mpumalanga
- Waaihoek Wind Farm, Utrecht, KZN
- Genesis wind and solar farms, Beaufort Wes,
- Kentani wind farm, Free State
- Tshipi é Ntle Manganese Mining, Northern Cape
- Kudumane Manganese Resources, Nothern Cape
- Assmang Manganese – Black Rock and Khumani mines, Northern Cape
- Hilton College housing development offset, Hilton, KZN
- Edge Construction Projects offset – St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape
- Nordex Energy South Arica offset – Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape
- Parsons Power Park offset – Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
- Nelson Mandela University offset – Gqeberha, Eastern Cape
- Hendrickskraal offset – Langkloof, Eastern Cape
