Jilin Provincial Transport Scientific Research Institute & PEECE Pty Ltd Biobanking Presented by Phil Hawley & Steve O’Rourke P E E C E

Preserving Habitat/Species  Some environmental destruction unavoidable  Biodiversity assessment to conserve endangered plant, animals and ecosystems  Strike a balance between environmental and social/economic needs  Based on evaluation of biodiversity values: composition, function and structure of ecosystems

How is it done?  Ecological survey to identify and assess biodiversity values  Measure loss of biodiversity values at development sites and gains at offset (biobank) sites  Biodiversity database used to generate comparisons (would need a China specific database)

Biobanking  Software determines ecosystem and species credits at both development and offset sites.  Software only available to trained users  Objective: “To improve or maintain biodiversity”

Biobanking  High biodiversity conversation areas are a “red flag” no go area unless the development can be shown to improve or maintain biodiversity values  Preservation of offset areas to ensure that losses of biodiversity values are offset by improvements on land with the same or similar biodiversity values

Biobanking  Biodiversity offset strategy is then prepared  Offset area subject to a management plan that preserves or even enhances biodiversity and ecological values

Ensuring Biobank Security  Proponents generally required to either put up security or have management requirements listed on the title to the land  Requirements can be rigorous  Severe penalties for non-compliance  Applies to government agencies