Biodiversity certification
Fact Sheet
Sustain. Invest. Protect. A new approach to land management and conservation in NSW
Biodiversity certification The current biodiversity certification scheme is being expanded to improve biodiversity assessment early in the planning process. This will provide certainty to developers and the community about potential future development areas. It will also achieve better environmental outcomes than by the current site-by-site assessment. Key biodiversity certification changes include: » Allowing developers to apply, rather than only planning authorities. » Aligning applications with other development assessment processes. » Certification will be encouraged for proposals declared to be of strategic biodiversity or development importance.
Biodiversity Assessment Method Biodiversity certification proposals will be assessed through the Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM). This new approach will ensure transparent and consistent outcomes for all biodiversity assessment within the planning system. A demonstration of the BAM is available online at http://landmanagement.nsw.gov. au/bam-tool
3 May 2016
Encouraging strategic biodiversity certification
Strategic biodiversity certification proposals
Incentives for planning authorities will encourage them to consider biodiversity impacts of future land use changes for certain proposals declared strategic. These are proposals likely to have significant environmental and community benefits from assessing and protecting biodiversity impacts early in the planning process.
A new category of ‘strategic’ biodiversity certification will be established. Only planning authorities can apply for a proposal to be declared strategic. The Minister for the Environment will determine if a biodiversity certification proposal is strategic, based on the criteria outlined in the biodiversity conservation regulation.
What is a biodiversity credit? A biodiversity credit is the expected biodiversity gain from protecting and managing land. Credits can be sold or used to offset development.
Additional conservation measures All biodiversity certification proposals can use biodiversity credits or payment into the Biodiversity Conservation Fund to meet their offset requirements. Strategic biodiversity certification proposals will be able to apply additional conservation measures including: »» reservation of land under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 »» adoption of development controls that conserve or enhance the environment under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 »» any other measure that the Minister for the Environment determines to be a conservation measure.
Loans for strategic biodiversity certification proposals The cost of offsets is thought to limit participation of planning authorities in the current biodiversity certification scheme. Under the expanded scheme planning authorities may be eligible for low interest financing from the Biodiversity Conservation Trust. Loans would be allocated to the highest priority projects, based on detailed criteria. This proposal will be discussed in more detail with planning authorities during the public exhibition phase.
What is the Biodiversity Conservation Fund? The Biodiversity Conservation Fund is where applicants can choose to pay to meet development offset obligations.
More Information For more information, visit http://landmanagement.nsw.gov.au
Have your say on the proposed changes We want to hear if you think the Independent Biodiversity Legislation Review Panel’s recommendations are reflected in the Biodiversity reforms consultation package. Communities, farmers and environmental groups are invited to participate in the consultation process. You can have your say online at http://landmanagement.nsw.gov. au/haveyoursay/ or send your written submission to: Biodiversity Reforms - Have Your Say Office of Environment and Heritage PO Box A290 Sydney South NSW 1232 Submissions close on 28 June 2016 at 5pm.
Sustain. Invest. Protect. A new approach to land management and conservation in NSW
Biodiversity certification The current biodiversity certification scheme is being expanded to improve biodiversity assessment early in the planning process. This will provide certainty to developers and the community about potential future development areas. It will also achieve better environmental outcomes than by the current site-by-site assessment. Key biodiversity certification changes include: » Allowing developers to apply, rather than only planning authorities. » Aligning applications with other development assessment processes. » Certification will be encouraged for proposals declared to be of strategic biodiversity or development importance.
Biodiversity Assessment Method Biodiversity certification proposals will be assessed through the Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM). This new approach will ensure transparent and consistent outcomes for all biodiversity assessment within the planning system. A demonstration of the BAM is available online at http://landmanagement.nsw.gov. au/bam-tool
3 May 2016
Encouraging strategic biodiversity certification
Strategic biodiversity certification proposals
Incentives for planning authorities will encourage them to consider biodiversity impacts of future land use changes for certain proposals declared strategic. These are proposals likely to have significant environmental and community benefits from assessing and protecting biodiversity impacts early in the planning process.
A new category of ‘strategic’ biodiversity certification will be established. Only planning authorities can apply for a proposal to be declared strategic. The Minister for the Environment will determine if a biodiversity certification proposal is strategic, based on the criteria outlined in the biodiversity conservation regulation.
What is a biodiversity credit? A biodiversity credit is the expected biodiversity gain from protecting and managing land. Credits can be sold or used to offset development.
Additional conservation measures All biodiversity certification proposals can use biodiversity credits or payment into the Biodiversity Conservation Fund to meet their offset requirements. Strategic biodiversity certification proposals will be able to apply additional conservation measures including: »» reservation of land under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 »» adoption of development controls that conserve or enhance the environment under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 »» any other measure that the Minister for the Environment determines to be a conservation measure.
Loans for strategic biodiversity certification proposals The cost of offsets is thought to limit participation of planning authorities in the current biodiversity certification scheme. Under the expanded scheme planning authorities may be eligible for low interest financing from the Biodiversity Conservation Trust. Loans would be allocated to the highest priority projects, based on detailed criteria. This proposal will be discussed in more detail with planning authorities during the public exhibition phase.
What is the Biodiversity Conservation Fund? The Biodiversity Conservation Fund is where applicants can choose to pay to meet development offset obligations.
More Information For more information, visit http://landmanagement.nsw.gov.au
Have your say on the proposed changes We want to hear if you think the Independent Biodiversity Legislation Review Panel’s recommendations are reflected in the Biodiversity reforms consultation package. Communities, farmers and environmental groups are invited to participate in the consultation process. You can have your say online at http://landmanagement.nsw.gov. au/haveyoursay/ or send your written submission to: Biodiversity Reforms - Have Your Say Office of Environment and Heritage PO Box A290 Sydney South NSW 1232 Submissions close on 28 June 2016 at 5pm.
