The mitigation hierarchy: from ecological issues to practical considerations for achieving the goal of no net loss of biodiversity

Abstract

The mitigation hierarchy in France (referred to herein as AMO sequence, for Avoid - Minimize- Offset) is a widely used biodiversity conservation tool because of its attractive theoretical capacity to reconcile development and biodiversity. In practice, the effectiveness of the AMO sequence is an unresolved quest due to e.g. the complexity of biodiversity, the numerous regulatory intertwining and the ambitious objective of achieving no net loss of biodiversity. The "project-by-project" approach, which remains the most widely used in France, is reaching its limits and does not make it possible to halt the erosion of biodiversity. It is therefore time to rethink the application of the AMO sequence to ensure it can effectively achieve an absence of net loss of biodiversity. We propose to start again from the ecological stakes underlying the application of the AMO sequence to show the relevance of organizing it at the territorial level. We will detail the questions that this new organization implies through a few major issues.