Illustrative Case Studies for Different Types of Biodiversity Offsets

A typology of biodiversity offsets has been developed. Seven types (including four subtypes) were identified: (1) Regulatory biodiversity offsets: required by law and enforced; (2) Conditional biodiversity offsets: required by financial institutions; (3) Enabled biodiversity offsets: fostered by governments (case 3a: enabled biodiversity offsets—by government) and NGOs (case 3b: enabled biodiversity offsets—new global norms) through pilot schemes, guidance, etc.; (4) Sectoral biodiversity offsets: taking part in a voluntary self-commitment of a sector (e.g., mining); (5) Corporate biodiversity offsets: resulting from a voluntary self-commitment of a corporation; (6) Local biodiversity offsets: single offsets that are most likely developed at local level in a consensual process, including case 6a: local biodiversity offsets—reputational risk and case 6b: local biodiversity offsets—license to operate; and (7) Altruistic biodiversity offsets: truly voluntary offsets that are driven by the altruistic motivation to make a positive impact.