Compensation for damaged or destroyed ecological values and natural habitats due to infrastructure development has increased the last years. The main reasons are stricter European legislation, extension of road networks or widening of roads with significant impacts on protected nature areas or endangered species. Nature compensation is only used as a final solution when avoidance and mitigation did not give a ”no net loss” result.

When compensation of residual negative impacts is the only solution, a study has to be undertaken to:

• Calculate size and assess type of nature to compensate;
• List suitable areas and quality criteria for compensation; and
• Draw up a compensation plan per area;

The size of the compensation area can be calculated based on direct impacts of the construction, indirect impacts such as increased noise levels and the quality of the present nature area (the method used in the Netherlands can be viewed here).

Probably the most difficult part of the compensation process is to find suitable areas to create the designated new or upgraded natural habitats on. Areas that comply with the calculated compensation in quality and quantity. Involving local stakeholders and nature management organisations is often a crucial factor for success. In principle suitable areas should be located as close as possible to the affected or destroyed habitats and not already be designated as protected nature areas. As this is difficult under certain circumstances, such as compensation for species dependent on old trees for their livelihood, upgrading of existing nature areas can be the only viable option. Suitable areas should then be acquired and the conditions for transformation into the desired ecotype listed. To ensure sustainable preservation the spatial plans should be adapted accordingly. The envisaged ecotypes to be developed are decided both based on the type of nature affected but also on the policies of the regional or national government (e.g. need for extension of the surface of semi-natural grasslands on the national level).

When the compensation task in terms of surface and type of nature is decided and the land made available, a plan has to be drawn up with actions to be taken to adapt, develop and manage the environmental and ecological values of the area. Such compensation plan should preferably also define measures and actions for coming years (including who is responsible for funding and management) to ensure the nature compensation task will be fulfilled. In this manner a favorable state of preservation can be achieved both for endangered and non-protected species.

The new road should not be opened for use before the nature compensation task is finalized and it is made sure that the new habitats will be functioning properly and sustainable management is organized.

Tools from P4R:

Poland – Seminar on nature compensation in Przebrno – October 2008

The Netherlands – Expert visit on nature compensation in Limburg – October 2008

 Links to useful information on the web:

Alter-net – A long term biodiversity, ecosystem and awareness research network

European Ecological Network – maintain value of nature areas