Engineering Bangor Bangor

1 INTRODUCTION Vertical environmental gradients in tropical forest canopies create diverse plant niches, shaping species strategies and driving functional trade-offs across the canopy profile (Lloyd et al., 2010; Poorter et al., 2008). These trade-offs linked to environmental heterogeneity reflect distinct floristic and functional composition along gradients of climate, edaphic conditions and light availability (Petchey & Gaston, 2002; Stark et al., 2017; Violle & Jiang, 2009).

Abstract Biodiversity offsetting is a globally influential policy mechanism for reconciling trade-offs between development and biodiversity loss. However, there is little robust evidence of its effectiveness. We evaluated the outcomes of a jurisdictional offsetting policy (Victoria, Australia). Offsets under Victoria's Native Vegetation Framework (2002–2013) aimed to prevent loss and degradation of remnant vegetation, and generate gains in vegetation extent and quality.