Natuurcompensatie in de Nederlandse provincie Limburg

: een analyse van de praktische toepassing van wettelijke en theoretische kaders

Abstract

When spatial planning projects located in protected areas in the Netherlands affect biodiversity, it is mandatory to offset the loss in biodiversity elsewhere. Provinces provide a key role in composing legislation regarding biodiversity offsets and in the prevention of a net loss in biodiversity. In 2009, the Zuidelijke Rekenkamer found that preventing net loss of biodiversity was insufficiently guaranteed in the Dutch province of Limburg in terms of transparency, timeliness and correctness. Despite these results being more than fifteen years old, the Natuur en Milieufederatie Limburg still receives frequent indications that no net loss of biodiversity is not averted properly. This study investigates biodiversity offsets in the Dutch province of Limburg from different perspectives and proposes possible improvements based on the results of this research.
First of all, legislation regarding biodiversity offsets at a European, national and provincial level has been examined. Especially at a provincial level, unclear formulations in given legal texts were identified. In addition, from legislation that was found to be relevant, legal assessment frameworks were composed. These assessment frameworks enable users to audit biodiversity offset projects based on legal requirements. Second, a systematic literature review was carried out in order to set up a theoretical framework that allows for insights into how biodiversity offsets should be managed according to scientific literature. The main results were found to be the best practices from the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Program (BBOP), which are compiled into ten biodiversity offset management principles, and a measurement method called the Biodiversity Benefits Index (BBI). Third, three specific biodiversity offset projects in Limburg were examined as case studies. The ten BBOP principles and the legal assessment frameworks, as described above, were used as analysis tools in these case studies. All three cases contained components where legislation has not been fully met. Additionally, all cases contain gaps when looking at the ten BBOP principles. The fourth component of this research examined how the development of a digital biodiversity offset map can contribute to transparency and correctness of biodiversity offset projects. The map itself can provide transparency, and to ensure correctness, an algorithm was built to verify whether a specific biodiversity offset project meets the given legal requirements. Subsequent to this verification the project can be added to the map. Finally, the BBI measurement method was specified to the region Limburg. This measurement methodology has the potential to provide a more detailed assessment of biodiversity offset projects in Limburg, where according to scientific literature relevant variables, not included in legislation, are taken into account. The outcomes of this more specified methodology also revealed that existing legislation on its own is not sufficient to prevent a net loss in biodiversity.

Date of Award	9 Feb 2025
Original language	Dutch
Supervisor	Lisanne Groen (Supervisor), Noa van Mulken (Co-assessor), Grietje Lenstra (Co-assessor), Andrea Bakker (Co-assessor) & Angelique Lansu (Examiner)