Get a desktop estimate of your likely offset obligations

1. Make a preliminary estimate of biodiversity impacts and offset obligations

To get a preliminary estimate of the type and number of credits that may be required, you can use an initial project footprint – for example, one prepared for a scoping report or feasibility study. You can do this before you prepare and submit a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report. This work does not need to be undertaken by an accredited assessor.

To estimate the type of ecosystem credits that might be required to offset a development footprint, you may be able to use tools or datasets such as the Credits Near Me NSW app or offset trading group mapping.

To estimate the number of ecosystem credits that might be required to offset a development footprint, you could use the following broad guidance based on scheme data collected between 2018 and 2023:  

• clearing one hectare of good-quality vegetation might generate an offset obligation of about 35 ecosystem credits  
• clearing one hectare of moderate-quality vegetation might generate an offset obligation of about 20 ecosystem credits.  

A hectare is an area 100 metres by 100 metres.

Due to variation between project sites and the characteristics of NSW threatened plant and animal species, it is not possible to estimate species credit impacts in the same way.  

Credits Near Me NSW app

 Offset trading groups potential supply map

Identifying the credits that you might need to offset your project’s impacts can allow you to start gauging the supply of these credits.  

2. Approach potential credit sellers

You should identify potential sellers of credits that you may need as early as possible in the process – even before completing a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report.  

You can find potential credit sellers through:

• Biodiversity Offsets Scheme public registers
• BioBanking public registers (the previous scheme)
• Biodiversity Credits Supply Taskforce Biodiversity Credits Catalogue.

Engaging with potential sellers of credits can help you make preliminary estimates of the costs of meeting your offsetting obligations.

3. Make a preliminary estimate of credit prices

To estimate the likely cost of retiring this type and number of credits, you can use an appropriate method to estimate prices for specific credits you may need, such as:

• historical market data – for example, from public registers and dashboards
• bottom-up costings – for example, using the biodiversity credit pricing guide  
• the price estimation service provided by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust.

See Estimating biodiversity credit prices.

4. Use the preliminary estimates to inform decisions about the project  

You can use the estimated costs of meeting offsetting requirements to inform decisions about your project, including the costs and benefits of redesigning the proposed project to avoid or minimise the impacts that activate the scheme.