The like-for-like offset rules establish the types of biodiversity that may be used to offset impacted biodiversity in a 'like-for-like' manner. The like-for-like rules seek to ensure that biodiversity impacts are offset with very similar biodiversity to those impacted.
Like-for-like rules for native vegetation (ecosystem credits)
Impacts on native vegetation must be offset with vegetation in the same local area as the impact based on near or adjacent IBRA subregions within 100 kilometres of the outer edge of the impacted site and:
- for threatened ecological communities, the offset must be for the same threatened ecological community
- for native vegetation not a threatened ecological community, the offset must be vegetation that is the same vegetation class and in the same or higher offset trading group; see the practice note on Offset rules and ecosystem credits or learn more about Ecosystem Credits Trading Groups
- if the impacted vegetation contains hollow bearing trees, then the offset must also contain hollow bearing trees.
Like-for-like rules for threatened species not associated with a particular type of vegetation (species credits)
Impacts on threatened species not associated with a particular type of vegetation must be offset with the same threatened species. This offset can be located anywhere in New South Wales.