A currency for offsetting energy development impacts: horse-trading sage-grouse on the open market.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Biodiversity offsets provide a mechanism to compensate for unavoidable damages from new energy development as the U.S. increases its domestic production. Proponents argue that offsets provide a partial solution for funding conservation while opponents contend the practice is flawed because offsets are negotiated without the science necessary to backup resulting decisions. Missing in negotiations is a biologically-based currency for estimating sufficiency of offsets and a framework for applying proceeds to maximize conservation benefits.

Methodology/principal findings

Here we quantify a common currency for offsets for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) by estimating number of impacted birds at 4 levels of development commonly permitted. Impacts were in

SUBMITTER: Doherty KE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2860982 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature