California’s restoration bottleneck deepens biodiversity debt

Becca Madsen, EPIC’s director of the Restoration Economy Center, wrote a guest commentary in Maven’s Notebook: "California’s restoration bottleneck deepens biodiversity debt." In this commentary, Becca discusses the growing ‘biodiversity debt’ that is accumulating due to slow permitting processes for restoration projects that offset infrastructure and other development projects.

Excerpt: “Without readily available conservation banks, developers must promise future offsets while seeking suitable restoration opportunities – a process that can stretch for years to decades. For example, CalMatters reported on the delayed restoration tied to the LA-area Playa Vista – 20 years overdue. Initial research shows 40% of promised offsets for state endangered species are still pending.”