The Executive Director of NEMA Dr. Barirega Akankwasah has tasked the Environment Officer and District Economic Planners to implement the mitigation hierarchy to support biodiversity offsets and development.

This message was delivered during the training of the officers on

• Application of mitigation hierarchy
• Designing Biodiversity Offsets and
• Implementation of Biodiversity Offsets.

The officers are from districts of Arua, Terego, Maracha, Koboko, Madi Okollo, Zombo, Nebbi, Yumbe, Obongi, Moyo, Pakwach, Adjumani, Hoima, Kikuube, Masindi, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Buliisa, Kiboga, Kibaale and Mubende.

The mitigation hierarchy provides ordered framework used to manage and reduce negative environmental impacts, particularly on biodiversity, from development projects through Avoid, Minimise, Restore/Rehabilitate, and Offset/Compensate to ensure that impacts of projects are lessened before resorting to compensation. The goal is to achieve “No Net Loss” or a net gain in biodiversity.