Science Articles

Development by Design in Colombia: Making Mitigation Decisions Consistent with Conservation Outcomes

PLOS ONE
2013
Saenz, Shirley, Walschburger, Tomas; Gonzalez, Juan Carlos; Leon, Jorge; McKenney, Bruce; Kiesecker, Joseph
PublisherPLOS
SourceScience Chronicles
Volume / Issue8(12)
Pages N/A
Total Pages12 pages
Article Linkhttp://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0081831
PDF Linkhttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0081831
ISBN N/A
DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0081831
Editor(s) N/A
Conference / Book Title N/A
Flag N/A
Tagsconservation science; biodiversity; ecosystems; pilot studies; terrestrial ecology; marine ecology; oils; spatial and landscape ecology
Other N/A
Conference Title N/A
Conference Date N/A
Publication DateDecember 05, 2013
Article Date N/A
GS Citation N/A
AbstractMitigation policy and regulatory frameworks are consistent in their strong support for the mitigation hierarchy of: (1) avoiding impacts, (2) minimizing impacts, and then (3) offsetting/compensating for residual impacts. While mitigation frameworks require developers to avoid, minimize and restore biodiversity on-site before considering an offset for residual impacts, there is a lack of quantitative guidance for this decision-making process. What are the criteria for requiring impacts be avoided altogether? Here we examine how conservation planning can guide the application of the mitigation hierarchy to address this issue. In support of the Colombian government's aim to improve siting and mitigation practices for planned development, we examined five pilot projects in landscapes expected to experience significant increases in mining, petroleum and/or infrastructure development. By blending landscape-level conservation planning with application of the mitigation hierarchy, we can proactively identify where proposed development and conservation priorities would be in conflict and where impacts should be avoided. The approach we outline here has been adopted by the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to guide licensing decisions, avoid piecemeal licensing, and promote mitigation decisions that maintain landscape condition.
Created: 12/14/2017 10:29 AM (ET)
Modified: 11/6/2018 4:50 PM (ET)
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