Workshop/Seminar: Natural Capital Initiative Biodiversity Offsetting Workshops 2010: Workshop 2 (Scientific and environmental data needs) Workshop

The potential increased use of offsetting to reduce the ecological impacts of development in the UK is under detailed evaluation by Defra, Natural England, conservationists, land owners and developers. To assist with finding an evidence-based approach that takes into account the views of all sectors, NERC-CEH, together with other partners in the Natural Capital Initiative, is organising three workshops in 2010. These will address some of the most urgent and cross-cutting challenges for the potential large scale implementation of biodiversity offsetting in the UK. 22nd June - practical challenges for the implementation (Workshop 1) 29th September - scientific knowledge and environmental data needs (Workshop 2) 7th December - how offsetting might be account for ecosystem service provision (Workshop 3) Workshop 1 involved 41 external participants representing all relevant sectors and disciplines. Workshops 2 and 3 will involve a similar mix of scientists and ¿end users.. All events will be followed by reports to decision makers, summarising the workshop discussions.