Newswise — University of Queensland-led research suggests that compensatory financial payments from land developers to mitigate their effects on endangered species might be inadequate.
Professor Jonathan Rhodes, from the School of the Environment, conducted research on koala populations in the rapidly growing South East Queensland area. His study examined a government initiative that permits developers to provide financial payments as compensation for the environmental consequences.
"Similar to making a financial contribution to offset carbon emissions when buying a flight, developers have the option to make a monetary payment to the Queensland Government in order to counterbalance their effects on koala habitat," explained Professor Rhodes.
“These payments are then used to plant trees to restore koala habitat in offset sites elsewhere.
"However, our findings reveal a significant issue: when it becomes challenging to locate suitable areas for rehabilitating koala habitat, the financial payments mandated by the Queensland Environmental Offset Policy frequently prove inadequate in achieving their desired outcomes," Professor Rhodes emphasized.
"In the South East Queensland region, out of the total 13.4 hectares of koala habitat impacts offset through financial payments since 2018, only 0.7 hectares have currently implemented offset sites. This worrisome situation raises concerns about the future of this cherished and endangered species," Professor Rhodes highlighted.
"Regrettably, the scarcity of available land for offset sites poses a significant challenge, leading to increased costs in habitat restoration efforts. Moreover, relying solely on securing these sites in the long run may not guarantee adequate gains in habitat to offset the losses effectively," Professor Rhodes explained.
Professor Rhodes expressed concern that the funding generated from developer payments may not be adequate to acquire a sufficient number of offset sites for effective habitat restoration.
"According to Professor Rhodes, South East Queensland represents the most densely populated region in the state, having grown from 2.4 million individuals in 2001 to 3.5 million in 2016. It is projected that the population will further increase to 5.3 million by 2041," highlighted the professor.
"In addition, South East Queensland harbors a substantial number of endangered species, including some of the most significant koala populations in Australia. Unfortunately, these populations have experienced a drastic decline of 50 to 80 percent over the past two decades," Professor Rhodes noted.
"As the region continues to expand and competition for land for development intensifies, this problem will exacerbate. Finding suitable offset sites may become increasingly challenging or more costly to secure," Professor Rhodes explained.
The study involved mapping and modeling the development activities in eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) located within the South East Queensland Planning Region. Ecological data was utilized, and the researchers projected the expected development patterns and outcomes regarding offsets.
While the researchers propose some solutions, they also call for consideration of immediate changes to the current offset policy.
-"Financial payments made by developers can offer the State Government the flexibility to implement the most effective offsets for the conservation of threatened species like koalas. However, it is crucial that developers bear the true cost of these offsets," emphasized Professor Rhodes.
"Without developers paying the appropriate cost for offsets, the compensatory measures will fail to adequately offset habitat losses, resulting in continued species decline. Alternatively, taxpayers, through the State Government, may have to compensate for the shortfall in developer contributions," Professor Rhodes warned.
The research is published in People and Nature.
RSS