NO NET LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY: A FALSE SOLUTION

The document critiques the 'no net loss' (NNL) approach to biodiversity, asserting that it functions as an accounting tool that permits the destruction of biodiversity in one location provided it is compensated elsewhere. It argues that NNL and biodiversity offset mechanisms—including biodiversity banks and credits—facilitate a predatory economic model and can lead to land grabbing and the infringement of Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' rights. The author contends that NNL is an unreliable substitute for the 'mitigation hierarchy' and calls for a transformational system change rather than technical offsets.

• No net loss (NNL) is described as a form of accounting that allows the destruction of biodiversity to continue under the assumption that it can be protected or restored elsewhere, meaning NNL cannot exist without actual loss.
• Biodiversity offset mechanisms, such as compensation credits and biodiversity banks, are used to extend legal limits on pollution and destruction without transparent legislative procedures, thereby supporting a development model dependent on fossil fuels.
• The annual market for compensation mechanisms is estimated between 2.4 and 4 billion dollars, with a potential value exceeding 45 billion dollars because 9 percent of global ecosystems could be restored using these mechanisms.
• Biodiversity offsets can lead to land grabbing and the violation of the rights of local communities and Indigenous Peoples, as these mechanisms require vast amounts of land that may not be available in many countries.
• The document argues that the 'mitigation hierarchy'—which prioritizes avoiding, minimizing, and remediating impacts before offsetting—is being bypassed in practice as compensation becomes an increasingly used mechanism.

APA

Collins, A. (n.d.). NO NET LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY: A FALSE SOLUTION. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/No-net-loss-of-biodiversity_Friends-of-the-Earth-International.pdf

Chicago

Collins, Amelia. NO NET LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY: A FALSE SOLUTION. Friends of the Earth International, n.d. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/No-net-loss-of-biodiversity_Friends-of-the-Earth-International.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Collins |first1=Amelia |title=NO NET LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY: A FALSE SOLUTION |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/No-net-loss-of-biodiversity_Friends-of-the-Earth-International.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{collinsndnet, author = {Collins, Amelia}, title = {{NO NET LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY: A FALSE SOLUTION}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/No-net-loss-of-biodiversity_Friends-of-the-Earth-International.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }