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A Political Ecology Approach to Biodiversity Offsets: Addressing Criticisms and Challenges to their Inclusion in the EU 2020 'No-Net-Loss' Initiative

Dunne, Ryan LU (2016) HEKM50 20161
Human Ecology
Department of Human Geography
Abstract
Biodiversity offsets have been proposed as part of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy in order to achieve 'no-net-loss' of biodiversity. However, there is a growing number of criticisms towards the use of offsets, particularly from a political ecology approach. Drawing from analysis of key EU documents and working reports, this thesis examines whether the proposed use of biodiversity offsets in the EU will address these criticisms and challenges. In doing so, it brings together cross-disciplinary literature on the design and implementation of biodiversity offsets, along with studies of previous offsetting cases, including three European cases (UK, Germany and France). Emphasising the political ecology approach, it explores how offsetting... (More)
Biodiversity offsets have been proposed as part of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy in order to achieve 'no-net-loss' of biodiversity. However, there is a growing number of criticisms towards the use of offsets, particularly from a political ecology approach. Drawing from analysis of key EU documents and working reports, this thesis examines whether the proposed use of biodiversity offsets in the EU will address these criticisms and challenges. In doing so, it brings together cross-disciplinary literature on the design and implementation of biodiversity offsets, along with studies of previous offsetting cases, including three European cases (UK, Germany and France). Emphasising the political ecology approach, it explores how offsetting has promoted a definition of nature as exchangeable and replaceable, what contradictions this creates in practice, and how the involvement of private sector, government, and non-government has affected their implementation. It connects previous use and design of offsetting with the political ideology of 'neoliberal conservationism,' which presents these features as commonsensical and promotes an uncritical view of development. By assessing key EU documents using these frameworks, the thesis demonstrates where challenges and criticism remain unaddressed in the proposed use of biodiversity offsetting and offers an explanation of why this may continue. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Dunne, Ryan LU
supervisor
organization
course
HEKM50 20161
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
biodiversity offsets, EU, no net loss, political ecology, neoliberalism, conservationism
language
English
id
8873691
date added to LUP
2017-05-22 14:36:36
date last changed
2017-05-22 14:36:36
@misc{8873691,
  abstract     = {{Biodiversity offsets have been proposed as part of the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy in order to achieve 'no-net-loss' of biodiversity. However, there is a growing number of criticisms towards the use of offsets, particularly from a political ecology approach. Drawing from analysis of key EU documents and working reports, this thesis examines whether the proposed use of biodiversity offsets in the EU will address these criticisms and challenges. In doing so, it brings together cross-disciplinary literature on the design and implementation of biodiversity offsets, along with studies of previous offsetting cases, including three European cases (UK, Germany and France). Emphasising the political ecology approach, it explores how offsetting has promoted a definition of nature as exchangeable and replaceable, what contradictions this creates in practice, and how the involvement of private sector, government, and non-government has affected their implementation. It connects previous use and design of offsetting with the political ideology of 'neoliberal conservationism,' which presents these features as commonsensical and promotes an uncritical view of development. By assessing key EU documents using these frameworks, the thesis demonstrates where challenges and criticism remain unaddressed in the proposed use of biodiversity offsetting and offers an explanation of why this may continue.}},
  author       = {{Dunne, Ryan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{A Political Ecology Approach to Biodiversity Offsets: Addressing Criticisms and Challenges to their Inclusion in the EU 2020 'No-Net-Loss' Initiative}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}