Biosis are BAM (Biodiversity Assessment Method) accredited ecologists and can assess your site for its biodiversity values and calculate its biodiversity credits. Our team support ongoing site management and regulatory compliance, giving you confidence and certainty throughout the certification process.
The Biodiversity Offset Scheme (BOS) in NSW replaces the old biobanking scheme. In a nutshell, the BOS is designed to create a system for the creation and sale of biodiversity credits by landowners, in exchange for those developments impacting the environment.
Before you can put your land up for offsetting, you must get a Biodiversity Stewardship Site Assessment Report (BSSAR) done by a qualified assessor like Biosis. You may or may not have sufficient native vegetation to generate offset credits.
Obtaining a Biodiversity Stewardship Site Assessment Reports (BSSAR) requires careful planning and site assessment, with both ecological and commercial considerations. Biosis has regional offices all over NSW and can work with you to determine if your property will be eligible to begin that process.
Note: In New South Wales, there is no minimum size for a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement (BSA) site, the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) generally recommends at least 200 hectares to ensure the site is financially viable and ecologically sustainable, however may be less for sites containing rare species or communities, or sites containing areas of significant biodiversity value.
A Biodiversity Stewardship Site Assessment Report (BSSAR) needs to be created. It is a technical report used to establish a Biodiversity Stewardship Site (BSS), and most importantly, the Biosis assessor will determine the number and type of biodiversity credits your site can generate.
The report will supply you with information including:
- The ecological values of the site including native vegetation and ‘plant community types’, threatened species habitat, threatened communities, and connectivity features, and then assess them using the Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM).
- It determines the number and type of biodiversity credits the site can generate.
- Management actions to protect and enhance these values over time and into perpetuity.
Once approved, the site is legally secured, and the credits can be used to offset biodiversity impacts from development elsewhere, or for direct conservation purposes providing both a conservation outcome and potential financial benefit for the landowner.
Biosis consultants will provide you with helpful advice and guidance on stewardship site feasibility and pathway to establishment. You must apply for a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement.
A Biodiversity Stewardship Site Assessment Report (BSSAR) is needed if you want to establish a Biodiversity Stewardship Site (BSS) and offset some of your land in NSW. There are several reasons you might want or need one.
- Your land contains native vegetation or threatened species habitat, a BSSAR can quantify the ecological values and determine how many credits your site can earn under the Biodiversity Offset Scheme (BOS)
- To offset development impacts: These credits can be used to offset biodiversity impacts from other developments, either on your land, or sold to other developers
- Engage an accredited biodiversity assessor like Biosis using the Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM).
- Preliminary site feasibility to identify whether your land contains sufficient native vegetation or threatened species habitat to generate credits.
- Finalise a business case to develop a high-level business case for the site.
- Detailed site assessment and reporting by the assessor who will document the site’s ecological values and then outline what’s required to maintain or enhance ecological values.
- Submit the report to the appropriate government body overseeing Biodiversity Stewardship Sites.
Once approved, the site is registered as a Biodiversity Stewardship Site, and the credits are formally recognised and can be used or sold.