Conclusions/Significance Documented impacts relative to development intensity can be used to forecast biological trade-offs of newly proposed or ongoing developments, and when drilling is approved, anticipated bird declines form the biological currency for negotiating offsets. Clustering well locations enabled a few small leks to remain active inside of developments. Findings reiterated the importance of time-lags as evidenced by greater impacts 4 years after initial development. Above this threshold lek losses were 2–5 times greater inside than outside of development and bird abundance at remaining leks declined by −32 to −77%. Impacts were indiscernible at 1–12 wells per 32.2 km2. 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. Missing in negotiations is a biologically-based currency for estimating sufficiency of offsets and a framework for applying proceeds to maximize conservation benefits. 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. Evans, Jeffrey S.īackground Biodiversity offsets provide a mechanism to compensate for unavoidable damages from new energy development as the U.S. A Currency for Offsetting Energy Development Impacts: Horse-Trading Sage-Grouse on the Open Marketĭoherty, Kevin E.
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