The Politics of Influence in Biodiversity Offsetting 

Since the 1990s, biodiversity offsetting policies and programs have significantly increased in number and diversity worldwide. These policies aim to counterbalance the loss of natural habitats induced by development projects by conserving equivalent lands in other locations. However, the article makes it clear that the effectiveness of these policies depends not only on their technical design but also on governance that manages to balance the interests and influence of various actors. 

The article shows how the different actors involved in offsetting initiatives understand, influence, and challenge offsetting policies, focusing on governance and decision-making processes at different levels, from design to implementation. The authors highlight blind spots in practice and research in this field that, if addressed, could contribute to more effective management in this area. 

For example, they advocate the development of effective governance with feedback mechanisms, which means that continuous learning is key to improving policies as they are implemented. Similarly, they recommend involving a greater diversity of actors in biodiversity conservation debates and policies, but without allowing private interests to affect the legitimacy and effectiveness of conservation actions. 

Finally, the authors emphasize the importance of further research into the negotiation and litigation processes underlying biodiversity offsetting and which, in many cases, have contributed to its opacity or ineffective functioning. Understanding who exerts influence, on what aspects, and through what channels, is essential for developing new research agendas that promote effective sustainability policies. 

 

 

Article reference:
Barral, S., Ghosh, R. & Corbera, E. The politics of influence in biodiversity offsetting. Nat Sustain (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-025-01514-y