Presentation given at the 2019 ICCB conference in KL, Malaysia. All content credited.

1. The UK’s European university
Evaluating the avoidance of
biodiversityimpacts
JoeWBull
ICCB 2019
Photo: J W Bull

2. Biodiversity
(e.g.areaofnaturalhabitatleft)
Time
(e.g. years)
Original biodiversity
Remaining biodiversity
after development
Pastbaseline
Offset
Remediate
Minimize
Avoid
MITIGATIONHIERARCHY
Figure: J W Bull (unpublished)

3. Implementation (offsets)
3
Bull & Strange, 2018, Nature Sustainability

4. Effectiveness (offsets)
4
zu Ermgassen et al., 2019, Conservation Letters

5. Avoidance: simulation
5
Bull & Milner-Gulland, in review
REDACTED

6. Model results: US wetlands
Bull & Milner-Gulland, in review
REDACTED

7. Avoidance
• Defining impact prevention in the
first place is problematic
• Multiple drivers of impact avoidance on projects,
definitely not always conservation
• Evaluating avoidance – showing intention to impact?
Capturing decisions?
• Alternatives – ignore avoidance altogether?

8. Thank you
j.w.bull@kent.ac.uk
8
Acknowledgements:
EJ Milner-Gulland, Niels
Strange, Sophus zu
Ermgassen, Laura Sonter
and UQ workshop attendees
Photo: J W Bull