Verifying biodiversity offset outcomes: Guidance for offset proponents

IDB Invest released a practical guidance to clients on evaluating biodiversity offset outcomes in their projects, outlining a 3-step approach for the design and implementation of an effective Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (BMEP).

Biodiversity offsets are structured interventions designed to compensate for the residual impacts of development projects on priority biodiversity, after applying all feasible measures of the Mitigation Hierarchy (avoidance, minimization and restoration).

A credible BMEP explains the metrics, sampling methods and analysis techniques used to verify that sufficient additional outcomes to meet No Net Loss (NNL) or Net Gain (NG) targets would accumulate over time.

The 3-step process proposed by IDB Invest for designing and implementing effective BMEP consist of: i) Establish clear logic for offset intervention success; ii) Verify long term outcomes; iii) Commit to ongoing verification.

These IDB Invest’s Guidelines are aligned with IFC Performance Standard 6.