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Environment and Heritage

Biodiversity Offsets Scheme glossary

 

This section contains definitions and explanations of terms frequently used in the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme and the previous BioBanking Scheme.

A

Accredited assessor: a person formally accredited to apply the Biodiversity Assessment Method. 

Accredited assessor public register: provides contact details for individuals accredited to apply the Biodiversity Assessment Method.

Activity (also Part 5 activity): as referred to in Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Additional biodiversity impacts (also ‘prescribed impacts’): direct and indirect impacts on the habitats of threatened entities, as outlined in clause 6.1 of the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017, including impacts:

  • on areas connecting threatened species habitats 
  • that affect water quality
  • on water bodies and hydrological processes that sustain threatened entities
  • on threatened and protected animals from turbine strikes from a wind farm
  • on threatened species or fauna that are part of a threatened ecological community from vehicle strikes. 

Adjacent remnant area: under the previous BioBanking Scheme, the area of the BioBank or development site of moderate-to-good condition native vegetation linked to the next area of native vegetation (≤100 m for woody vegetation and ≤ 30 m for non-woody vegetation). Provides landscape context to the site and may extend onto adjoining land. 

Ancillary rules: published by the Secretary of the department (or anyone authorised by them) for interpreting and applying offset and variation rules under clause 6.5 of the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017.

Area clearing threshold: area-based threshold applying to native vegetation clearing and one of the elements of the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme threshold. 

Area of Outstanding Biodiversity Value (AOBV): special areas with irreplaceable biodiversity values declared by the Minister for the Environment under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Assessment area: the subject land and area within the 1,500-metre buffer zone surrounding the subject land (or 500-metre buffer zone for linear proposals) determined under subsection 3.1.2 of the Biodiversity Assessment Method 2020.

Assessment circle: the assessed percentage of native vegetation cover in circles of 100 and 1,000 hectares (under the previous BioBanking Scheme).

Asset protection zone (APZ): area surrounding a development or building where vegetation-based fuel load is managed to reduce the bushfire hazard to an acceptable level.

Avoid: the first step in the 'avoid, minimise, offset hierarchy'. Includes measures taken by a proponent to completely prevent impacts on biodiversity values or certain areas of biodiversity, such as:

  • careful site selection
  • actions taken through the design, planning, construction and operational phases of the development. 

B 

BioBank site: land designated by a BioBanking Agreement under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

BioBank site owner: owner of land specified as a BioBank site under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

BioBanking Agreement: agreements made between the landowner and the Minister for the Environment under the previous BioBanking Scheme. Existing BioBanking agreements remain in place and are managed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 as Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements.

BioBanking Agreements Register: register of BioBanking Agreements created under the previous BioBanking Scheme. Includes the location of each BioBank site, the number and type of credits generated, and a copy of the BioBanking agreement.

BioBanking Assessment Methodology (BBAM): the method for assessing biodiversity under the previous BioBanking Scheme and determining:

  • the number and class of credits required to offset the loss in biodiversity values caused by development
  • the number and class of credits that may be created by management actions that improve biodiversity values at a BioBank site
  • the circumstances that improve or maintain biodiversity values. 

BioBanking Assessment Methodology and Credit Calculator Operational Manual: instructions to apply the methodology and the credit calculator under the previous BioBanking Scheme, including data collection and field survey methods.

BioBanking assessor: a person accredited under the previous BioBanking Scheme to use the BioBanking methodology and credit calculator.

BioBanking Compliance Assurance Strategy: compliance assurance strategy under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

BioBanking Credit Calculator: computer program used to apply the BioBanking Assessment Methodology and calculate the number and classes of credits required at a development site or created at a BioBank site under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

BioBanking credits: ecosystem or species credits under the previous BioBanking Scheme required to offset the loss of biodiversity values on development sites or created on BioBank sites from management actions that improve biodiversity values.

BioBanking Credits Register: register of biodiversity credits kept by the Environment Agency Head under the previous BioBanking Scheme. 

BioBanking Information Management System (BIMS): computer application holding data and supporting the previous BioBanking Scheme and its administration.

BioBanking Public Registers: provide information about BioBanking credit transactions, agreements and statements created under the previous BioBanking Scheme. 

BioBanking Regulation: the Threatened Species Conservation (Biodiversity Banking) Regulation 2008 relating to the previous BioBanking Scheme.

BioBanking Scheme: previous voluntary biodiversity offset scheme established under Part 7A of the repealed Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. It was replaced by the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme established under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Transitional arrangements provide for the continuation of credits and credit obligations created under the previous scheme.

BioBanking statement: specifies the number and class of credits to be retired for a particular development under the previous BioBanking Scheme. 

BioBanking Statements Register: register of BioBanking Statements under the previous BioBanking Scheme. 

BioBanking Trust Fund: held funds from the sale of credits (Total Fund Deposit) under the previous BioBanking Scheme. The fund manager made payments to BioBank site owners in accordance with BioBanking Agreements and regulations.

BioBanking Trust Fund Account: an account held within the BioBanking Trust Fund for a BioBank site under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM): a consistent method to assess:

  • impacts on biodiversity values from a proposed development (including major projects), activity, clearing or biodiversity certification
  • improvements in biodiversity values from management actions undertaken at a stewardship site. 

It outlines:

  • how to assess changes in native vegetation, threatened species and their habitats
  • the number and class of biodiversity credits that need to be offset to achieve ‘no net loss’ of biodiversity, but only after attempts to avoid, minimise and mitigate impacts have been considered and addressed. 

Biodiversity Assessment Method Calculator (BAM-C): online program published by the department providing decision support to accredited assessors and proponents applying the Biodiversity Assessment Method. It applies the equations used in the method, including:

  • those to determine the number and class of biodiversity credits required to offset the impacts of a development
  • those created at a biodiversity stewardship site. 

Biodiversity Assessment Method Operational Manual: a guide to assist assessors using the Biodiversity Assessment Method.

Biodiversity Assessment Report (BAR): a term referring to assessment reports prepared by accredited assessors under the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme. These reports include:

  • a Biodiversity Stewardship Site Assessment Report
  • a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report
  • a Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report. 

Biodiversity Assessors Accreditation System (BAAS): Online accreditation training registration, accreditation applications and gateway to the accredited assessor versions of the Biodiversity Offsets and Agreement Management System and the Biodiversity Assessment Method Calculator.

Biodiversity certification: conferred by the Minister on specified land under Part 8 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, biodiversity certification is a streamlined biodiversity assessment process for the development of land focusing on avoiding and minimising impacts on biodiversity values early in the planning process. Biodiversity certification also refers to certification under the repealed Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

Biodiversity certification assessment area: area of land subject to assessment under the Biodiversity Assessment Method for the design of future land uses and identified in the Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report. It usually correlates to a strategic planning area in a published plan or the subject lands of a planning proposal. It includes:

  • land proposed for certification (development) 
  • avoided land
  • any surrounding or adjacent land proposed for land-based conservation measures
  • retained lands. 

Land-based conservation measures are not necessarily limited to the confines of the biodiversity certification assessment area. 

Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report (BCAR): the required report for a biodiversity certification assessment. It must be prepared by an accredited assessor and use the Biodiversity Assessment Method to assess the biodiversity values within the biodiversity certification assessment area. The report:

  • assesses biodiversity values of land within the biodiversity certification assessment area
  • documents how land proposed for certification is located to avoid or minimise impacts on biodiversity
  • assesses the impacts on biodiversity values of proposed development within the area proposed for certification 
  • specifies the number and class of biodiversity credits to be retired to offset those impacts 
  • specifies any other proposed conservation measures to offset those impacts.

Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: NSW legislation that establishes the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme and provides for the establishment of a Biodiversity Assessment Method. Its purpose is to maintain a healthy, productive and resilient environment for the greatest wellbeing of the community now and into the future, consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development.

Biodiversity Conservation Fund (BCF): fund established under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and managed by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust where payment is an alternative to the retirement of biodiversity credits.

Biodiversity Conservation Fund Charge System: determines the amount that may be paid into the Biodiversity Conservation Fund as an alternative to retiring credits.

Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017: a statutory instrument which sets out the administrative detail for how the provisions of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 are applied.

Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT): a statutory not-for-profit body delivering private land conservation programs and fulfilling certain roles under the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme.

Biodiversity credit: common unit of measurement for offsets in the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme. Biodiversity losses at a development site and the predicted gains (improvement in biodiversity condition) at an offset Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement site are measured in and expressed as a number and type of ‘biodiversity credits’.

Biodiversity credit report: the report produced by the Biodiversity Assessment Method Calculator that sets out the number and class of biodiversity credits required to offset the remaining adverse impacts on biodiversity values at a development site or on land to be biodiversity certified. For biodiversity stewardship sites, the biodiversity credit report sets out the number and class of biodiversity credits that can be created at that site. 

Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR): prepared by an accredited assessor for: 

  • proposed development or activity authorised by a planning approval
  • proposed clearing authorised by a vegetation clearing approval. 

The report:

  • assesses the biodiversity values of land subject to the proposed development, activity or clearing in accordance with the Biodiversity Assessment Method and impact of the proposed development, activity or clearing on those values
  • sets out the measures proposed to avoid or minimise the impact of the proposed development, activity or clearing 
  • specifies the number and class of biodiversity credits required to be retired to offset the residual impacts on biodiversity values of the actions to which the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme applies. 

Biodiversity offsets: gain in biodiversity values achieved from the implementation of management actions on areas of land to compensate for losses to biodiversity values from the impacts of development.

Biodiversity Offsets and Agreement Management System (BOAMS): used by accredited assessors, the department and decision makers to administer and manage the steps in the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme.

Biodiversity Offsets Scheme (BOS): a transparent, consistent and scientifically based framework for biodiversity assessment and offsetting for development that is likely to have a significant impact on biodiversity.

Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Public Registers: registers providing information about biodiversity credits, obligations and transactions created under the provisions of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017.

Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Threshold: For some development and clearing proposals it is used to determine when it is necessary to engage an accredited assessor to apply the Biodiversity Assessment Method to assess the impacts of a proposal. The threshold has 2 elements:

  • whether the amount of native vegetation being cleared exceeds an area threshold
  • whether the impacts occur on an area mapped on the Biodiversity Values Map published by the Environment Agency Head.

Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement (BSA): an agreement between the Minister for the Environment and landowners to establish a biodiversity stewardship site.

Biodiversity Stewardship Payments Fund (BSPF): A fund established by the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and managed by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust, which receives payments when biodiversity credits are sold to cover management actions at a biodiversity stewardship site. The Biodiversity Conservation Trust is responsible for managing and investing the funds held in the Biodiversity Stewardship Payments Fund and making annual payments to landholders. 

Biodiversity stewardship site: land designated by a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement to be a biodiversity stewardship site for the purposes of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Biodiversity Stewardship Site Assessment Report (BSSAR): A report prepared by an accredited assessor for a proposed Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement:

  • assessing the biodiversity values of the proposed biodiversity stewardship site in accordance with the Biodiversity Assessment Method
  • setting out the management actions proposed to be carried out on the proposed site
  • specifying the number and class of biodiversity credits that may be created by those management actions in accordance with the Biodiversity Assessment Method.

Biodiversity values: Under the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme, biodiversity values refer to:

  • vegetation integrity – the degree to which the composition, structure and function of vegetation at a particular site and the surrounding landscape have been altered from a near natural state
  • habitat suitability – the degree to which the habitat needs of threatened species are present at a particular site
  • biodiversity values, or biodiversity-related values, prescribed by the Regulation.

Under the previous BioBanking Scheme, biodiversity values:

  • include the composition, structure and function of ecosystems, including (but not limited to) threatened species, populations and ecological communities, and their habitats
  • do not include fish or marine vegetation (Part 7A of the Fisheries Management Act 1994) unless that fish or marine vegetation is the subject of an order under section 5A of the repealed Threatened Species Conservation Act.

Biodiversity Values Map: identifies land with high biodiversity value that is particularly sensitive to impacts from development and clearing. The map forms part of the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Threshold and is one of the triggers for determining whether the scheme applies to a clearing or development proposal. 

Biodiversity Values Map and Threshold Tool: a web-based mapping tool that can be used as a guide to help determine if the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Threshold is exceeded.

Biometric vegetation type (BVT): the finest level of classification of native vegetation under the previous BioBanking Scheme. Biometric vegetation types are assigned to vegetation classes, which in turn are assigned to vegetation formations. There are approximately 1,600 vegetation types within New South Wales.

BioNet: the repository for biodiversity data products managed by the department.

BioNet Atlas (formerly known as the NSW Wildlife Atlas): the department’s database of flora and fauna records containing records of:

  • plants
  • mammals
  • birds
  • reptiles
  • amphibians
  • some fungi
  • some invertebrates (for example, insects and snails listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016) 
  • some fish. 

BioNet Vegetation Classification: a vegetation community-level classification for use in vegetation mapping programs and regulatory biodiversity impact assessment frameworks in New South Wales. Learn more about the BioNet Vegetation Classification.  

C

Category 1 exempt land is land where native vegetation can be cleared without approval from Local Land Services. The Biodiversity Assessment Method does not apply to category 1 exempt land.

Category 2 regulated land is category 2 land that is not vulnerable or sensitive regulated land. You may need authorisation from Local Land Services to clear native vegetation in this category. There are a range of allowable activities which can be carried out without needing authorisation.

Category 2–vulnerable regulated land is land where clearing of native vegetation may be limited under the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code 2018, and a limited range of allowable activities are permitted. 

Category 2–sensitive regulated land is land where clearing is not permitted under the Land Management Code (Native Vegetation) Code 2018, and a limited range of allowable activities are permitted.

Certified local data (also referred to as More Appropriate Local Data): data under the previous BioBanking Scheme that more accurately reflects local environmental conditions, as certified by the Director General in relation to:

  • the Vegetation Benchmarks Database
  • the Vegetation Types Database 
  • the Threatened Species Profile Database.

Class of biodiversity credit: biodiversity credits that share the same attributes as set out in the Biodiversity Assessment Method.

Cleared land: under the previous BioBanking Scheme, cleared land is where:

  • the native over-storey has been cleared
  • there is no native mid-storey (or the native mid-storey has been cleared), and
  • less than 50% of the ground cover vegetation is indigenous species or greater than 90% of the ground cover (dead or alive) is cleared.

Clearing native vegetation: clearing native vegetation has the same meaning as in Part 5A of the Local Land Services Act 2013, such as:

  • cutting down, felling, uprooting, thinning or otherwise removing native vegetation, or
  • killing, destroying, poisoning, ringbarking or burning native vegetation.

CMA Area: an area of operation of a catchment management authority used under the previous BioBanking Scheme, as described in Schedule 2 of the Catchment Management Authorities Act 2003.

CMA subregion: subregions of catchment management authority areas used under the previous BioBanking Scheme, as set out in the Environmental Outcomes Assessment Methodology and Native Vegetation Regulation 2005.

Compliance audit: assessment of activities under the previous BioBanking Scheme to determine whether certain requirements are being met. The requirements are determined before the audit commences and are known as audit criteria.

Connectivity: a measure of the degree to which an area (or areas) of native vegetation is linked with other areas of vegetation under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

Consent authority: The council, public authority or minister who has the function of determining a particular development application under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Conservation broker: a person helping potential participants of the previous BioBanking Scheme – for example, with establishing a BioBank site or the buying and selling of credits.

Credit Demand Register: details the number, type and location of credits required. It includes:

  • credits wanted (potential credit demand) 
  • pending credits (those which need assessment or approval).

Credit holder: a person recorded as the current owner of a specific credit in the Biodiversity Credit Supply Register, or in the register of BioBanking credits under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

Credit obligation: an obligation expressed in terms of biodiversity credits that measures the residual direct impacts of a development, activity or vegetation clearing proposal on biodiversity values.

Credit profile: a description of the credit created or required in a vegetation zone or group of zones under the previous BioBanking Scheme, according to the attributes of:

  • CMA subregion
  • vegetation type
  • vegetation formation
  • surrounding vegetation cover
  • patch size including low-condition vegetation.

Credit retirement condition: a condition contained in a BioBanking Statement under the previous BioBanking Scheme to specify the number and class of biodiversity credits that must be retired for a specific development so that the development will improve or maintain biodiversity values.

Credit Supply Register: details the number, type and location of credits available for purchase. This register includes expressions of interest (potential credit supply), pending credits (those which need assessment or approval) and issued credits. 

Credits Supply Taskforce (CST): The Credits Supply Taskforce is part of the department and acts as a market facilitator for the scheme’s credit markets. It establishes Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements and operates the Credits Supply Fund.

Credits Transactions Register: information about Biodiversity Offsets Scheme credit transfers and retirements, including:

  • credit type
  • number
  • price
  • date
  • suspensions and cancellations.

Critically Endangered Ecological Community (CEEC): ecological communities specified as critically endangered in Schedule 2 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and/or listed under Part 13, Division 1, Subdivision A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 2019 (Cth).

 

D

Decision maker: includes:

  • consent authorities for development applications under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 
  • the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces for activities under Part 5.1 of the Act
  • determining authorities for activities under Part 5 of the Act
  • the Native Vegetation Panel for approvals for clearing native vegetation under section 60ZF of the Local Land Services Act 2013 and permits under clause 14 of the Vegetation State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP)
  • the Minister for the Environment for biodiversity certification under Part 8 and Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements under Part 5.5 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. 

Derived plant community types: plant community types that have changed to an alternative stable state because of land management practices since European settlement. Derived communities can have one or more structural components of the vegetation entirely removed or severely reduced (for example, over-storey of grassy woodland) or have developed new structural components where they were previously absent (for example, shrubby mid-storey in an open woodland system).

Development: has the same meaning as in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 – that is:

  • the use of land
  • the subdivision of land
  • the erection of a building
  • the carrying out of a work
  • the demolition of a building or work.

It includes an activity within the meaning of Part 5 of the Act.

Development footprint: an area of land directly impacted by a proposed development, including access roads and areas used to store construction materials. Also taken to include the clearing footprint, except when the reference is to a small area development or a major project development.

Development site: an area of land subject to a proposed development under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Also taken to include the clearing site, except where the reference is to a small area development or a major project development. 

Direct impacts: impacts on biodiversity values and threatened species habitat that relate to clearing native vegetation and impacts on biodiversity values prescribed by the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017. Includes impacts from activities related to the construction or operational phase of the proposal.

E-G

Ecosystem credits: a measurement of the value of threatened ecological communities, threatened species habitat for species that can be reliably predicted to occur within a plant community type generally. They measure:

  • the loss in biodiversity values at a development, activity, clearing or biodiversity certification site
  • the gain in biodiversity values at a biodiversity stewardship site.

Expert: a person with relevant experience and/or qualifications to provide an expert opinion about the biodiversity values relating to the expert report. 

Expert report: an expert report can be used instead of a species survey for all proposals to determine whether a species is present or not present on the subject land. Where an assessor assumes the species is present (except for a proposed biodiversity stewardship site), an expert report may be used to determine the location and area of fauna or flora habitat for the species polygon, and the estimated number of individuals of the flora species. An expert report can only be prepared by a person who, in the opinion of the Secretary of the department or anyone authorised by the Secretary, has specialised knowledge, which may be based on training, study or experience, to provide an expert opinion regarding the threatened species to which the report relates.

Fit and proper person test: requirements set out in the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017 to determine if an owner of a proposed biodiversity stewardship site is a fit and proper person. A similar requirement was in place for the owner of proposed BioBanking sites under the Threatened Species Conservation (Biodiversity Banking) Regulation 2008. 

Fund manager: a person appointed by the Minister as the fund manager to manage the Biodiversity Stewardships Payment Fund (under the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme) or BioBanking Trust Fund (under the previous BioBanking Scheme).

General biodiversity values: biodiversity values assessed in the previous BioBanking Scheme methodology, excluding assessment of threatened species and populations.

Grassland: native vegetation classified in the vegetation formation grasslands in Ocean shores to desert dunes: the native vegetation of New South Wales and the ACT (Keith D 2004, Department of Environment and Conservation NSW, Hurstville, NSW). Grasslands are generally dominated by large perennial tussock grasses, a lack of woody plants, the presence of broad-leaved herbs in inter-tussock spaces, and their ecological association with fertile, heavy clay soils on flat topography in regions with low to moderate rainfall.


H-K

Habitat: an area or areas occupied, or periodically or occasionally occupied, by a species or ecological community, including any biotic or abiotic component. 

Habitat surrogates: measures of habitat for threatened species, populations and communities, including:

  • IBRA subregion 
  • PCT 
  • percent vegetation cover 
  • vegetation condition. 

Under the previous BioBanking Scheme the habitat surrogates applied were: 

  • CMA subregion
  • biometric vegetation type
  • percentage vegetation cover
  • vegetation condition 
  • patch area including low-condition vegetation.

Herbfield: native vegetation that predominantly does not contain an over-storey or mid-storey and where the ground cover is dominated by non-grass species.

Highly cleared vegetation type: a vegetation type under the previous BioBanking Scheme, which has 10% or less of its estimated pre-1750 distribution in the CMA remaining (as shown by the Vegetation Types Database).

Identified population: a population present within an area of land if identified as habitat for a particular species and listed in the Identified Population Database under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

Identified population database: a database containing information such as a map or criteria that describe the location of an identified population under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

Impact assessment: under the previous BioBanking Scheme, an impact assessment must be prepared and address the criteria used to justify:

  • an impact on a red flag area under section 2.3 of the BioBanking Assessment Methodology
  • the assessment of indirect impacts of the development under section 2.4 of the BioBanking Assessment Methodology
  • the assessment of the direct impacts of the development under sections 3 and 4 of the of the BioBanking Assessment Methodology.

Impacts on biodiversity values: refer to the loss in biodiversity values under the previous BioBanking Scheme on or off the development site and the gain in biodiversity values at the BioBank site.

Improve or maintain biodiversity values: under the previous BioBanking Scheme, a development is to be regarded as improving or maintaining biodiversity values if:

  • the development does not directly impact on biodiversity values in a red flag area on the development site or does directly impact on biodiversity values in a red flag area on the development site but the Director General makes a determination that the development may be regarded as improving or maintaining biodiversity values according to the BioBanking Assessment Methodology
  • the direct impacts of the development on biodiversity values on the development site are offset by the retirement of biodiversity credits determined in accordance with the offset rules in the BioBanking Assessment Methodology and the Director General determines that any indirect impacts of the development on on-site and off-site biodiversity values that cannot be mitigated through on-site measures are offset by the retirement of biodiversity credits determined in accordance with the offset rules in the BioBanking Assessment Methodology.

Indirect impacts: impacts that occur when a proposal affects native vegetation and threatened species habitat beyond the development footprint or within retained areas (for example, transporting weeds or pathogens, rubbish dumping). They include impacts from activities related to the construction or operational phase of the proposal and prescribed impacts. 

Individual: a single, mature organism.

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia region or subregion (IBRA): a bioregion or subregion identified under the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) system (Thackway & Cresswell 1995), which divides Australia into bioregions on the basis of their dominant landscape-scale attributes. 

Interim Grasslands and other Groundcover Assessment Method (IGGAM): a method for determining the conservation value of grasslands and other groundcover. Under Part 5A of the Local Land Services Act 2013 (NSW) and the amended Local Land Services Regulation 2014, the conservation value of grasslands and other groundcover is determined by applying the IGGAM. The Local Land Services Regulation and the IGGAM also allow for the department to designate mapped areas of high conservation value grasslands and other groundcover in certain circumstances.

L-N

Landscape value: a measure of fragmentation, connectivity and adjacency of native vegetation at a site under the previous BioBanking Scheme. It comprises:

  • percentage native vegetation cover in the 100-ha and 1,000-ha assessment circles in which the development or BioBank sites are located 
  • connectivity with surrounding vegetation 
  • the total adjacent remnant area.

Loss of biodiversity: the loss of biodiversity values from a development site, native vegetation clearing site or land on which biodiversity certification is conferred. 

Low-condition vegetation: under the previous BioBanking Scheme, this is woody native vegetation where:

  • the native over-storey percentage of foliage cover is less than 25% of the lower value of the over-storey percentage of foliage cover benchmark for that vegetation type and
  • less than 50% of ground cover vegetation is indigenous species, or
  • more than 90% of ground cover vegetation is cleared

or native grassland, wetland or herbfield where:

  • less than 50% of ground cover vegetation is indigenous species, or
  • more than 90% of ground cover vegetation is cleared.

If native vegetation is not in low condition, it is in moderate-to-good condition.

Major project: state significant development under Part 4, Division 4.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and state significant infrastructure under Part 5, Division 5.2 of the Act. 

Management actions: an action or proposed action carried out at a BioBank site to improve or maintain biodiversity values in respect of which biodiversity credits may be created under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

Management zone: under the previous BioBanking Scheme, where the extent of development impact or improvement through management varies over a vegetation zone, a management zone is used for the purpose of calculating the change in site value for that vegetation zone.

Moderate-to-good condition vegetation: native vegetation under the previous BioBanking Scheme that is not in low condition, as defined in section 2.1.1 of the BioBanking Assessment Methodology.

Minimise: a process applied throughout the development planning and design life cycle that seeks to reduce the residual impacts of development on biodiversity values. 

Native regrowth: under the previous BioBanking Scheme, as defined by the Native Vegetation Act 2003 native regrowth means any native vegetation that has regrown since the earlier of the following dates:

(a) 1 January 1983 in the case of land in the Western Division and 1 January 1990 in the case of other land

(b) the date specified in a property vegetation plan for the purposes of this definition (in exceptional circumstances being a date based on existing rotational farming practices).

Native vegetation: has the same meaning as in section 1.6 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and section 60B of the Local Land Services Act 2013:

  1. For the purposes of this Part, native vegetation means any of the following types of plants native to New South Wales:
    1. trees (including any sapling or shrub or any scrub)
    2. understorey plants 
    3. groundcover (being any type of herbaceous vegetation) 
    4. plants occurring in a wetland. 
  2. A plant is native to New South Wales if it was established in the state before European settlement. The regulations may authorise conclusive presumptions to be made of the species of plants native to New South Wales by adopting any relevant classification in an official database of plants that is publicly accessible.
  3. For the purposes of this Part, native vegetation extends to a plant that is dead or that is not native to New South Wales if: 
    1. the plant is situated on land that is shown on the Native Vegetation Regulatory map as category 2-vulnerable regulated land and 
    2. it would be native vegetation for the purposes of this Part if it were native to New South Wales. 
    3. For the purposes of this Part, native vegetation does not extend to marine vegetation (being mangroves, seagrasses or any other species of plant that at any time in its life cycle must inhabit water other than fresh water). A declaration under section 14.7 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 that specified vegetation is or is not marine vegetation also has effect for the purposes of this Part. 

Native vegetation cover: the percentage of native vegetation cover on the subject land and the surrounding buffer area. Under the previous BioBanking Scheme, the percentage of native vegetation cover in the 100-ha and 1,000-ha assessment circles in which the vegetation zone is located. 

Native Vegetation Regulatory map (NVR map): The map designates areas of land where clearing of native vegetation is categorised as regulated or exempt under Part 5A of the Local Land Services Act 2013 (NSW).

No net loss: refers to the standard set out in the Biodiversity Assessment Method that in the opinion of the Minister will result in no net loss of biodiversity in New South Wales. 

Notional assessment and notional information: under the previous BioBanking Scheme:

  • undertaking an assessment by using information on vegetation type, vegetation condition, or presence or absence of threatened species obtained from remote imagery rather than from site surveys, or
  • assessment of threatened species from surveys or expert reports without using the initial or secondary filtering criteria.

NSW (Mitchell) Landscape: landscape under the previous BioBanking Scheme and BOS with relatively homogeneous geomorphology, soils and broad vegetation types, mapped at a scale of 1:250000.

O-Q

Offset obligation: obligation expressed in terms of biodiversity credits that measures the residual direct impacts of a development, activity or vegetation clearing proposal on biodiversity values.

Offset rules: offset rules govern the types of offsets that can be used to meet an offset obligation under the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme. The rules are established by the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017. Under the previous BioBanking Scheme, offset rules identified the circumstances in which credits could be used (retired) for a development to improve or maintain biodiversity values.

Patch size (including low-condition vegetation): under the previous BioBanking Scheme, the area of moderate- to good- and low-condition native vegetation of which the BioBank site or development site is a part, which is linked to the next area of native vegetation (≤less than 100 m from for woody vegetation and ≤30 m for non-woody vegetation). Patch size, including low-condition vegetation, provides landscape context to the BioBank or development site, and may extend onto adjoining land.

Percent cleared: the percentage of a vegetation type that has been cleared as a proportion of its pre-1750 extent as identified in the BioNet Vegetation Classification.

Percent foliage cover: under the previous BioBanking Scheme, the percentage of ground that would be covered by a vertical projection of the foliage, and branches and trunk of a plant or plants.

Plant community type (PCT): the master community-level typology for NSW vegetation communities used in planning and assessment tools and vegetation mapping. NSW plant community types (PCT) are identified using the Plant Community Type Classification System. 

Plant Community Type Classification System: classifies native vegetation approved by the NSW Plant Community Type Control Panel and described in the BioNet Vegetation Classification. 

Plot: under the previous BioBanking Scheme, an area in which some of the 10 site attributes that make up the value score are assessed in a vegetation zone.

Prescribed impact: means the prescribed impacts identified in clause 6.1 of the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017. Prescribed impacts can be direct or indirect.

Private Land Conservation Agreements Register: details of private land conservation agreements with the Biodiversity Conservation Trust.

Proponent: a person who intends to apply for consent or approval to carry out development (including infrastructure), native vegetation clearing or biodiversity certification. 

Proposal: includes any of the following: 

  • development that requires consent under Part 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
  • an activity that requires approval under Part 5, Division 5.1 (where the proponent has opted in to the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
  • development that requires approval under Part 5, Division 5.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act1979
  • clearing that requires approval under Part 5A of the Local Land Services Act 2013 or a permit under the Biodiversity and Conservation SEPP 
  •  an application for biodiversity certification of land under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 
  •  an application for a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

Protected animal: an animal of a species listed or referred to in Schedule 5 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Some protected animals may also be threatened species of animals, but not all threatened species of animals are protected animals. 

R-S

Red flag area: an area of land (part of a development site) with high biodiversity conservation values under the previous BioBanking Scheme. The impact of the development on the biodiversity values of a red flag area cannot be offset by the retirement of biodiversity credits unless the Environment Agency Head determines that strict avoidance of the red flag area is unnecessary in the circumstances.

Reference sites: the relatively unmodified sites that are assessed to obtain local benchmark information when benchmarks in the Vegetation Benchmarks Database are too broad or otherwise incorrect for the PCT and/or local situation. Benchmarks can also be obtained from published sources. Reference sites are used under the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme and the previous BioBanking Scheme.

Residual impact: an impact on biodiversity values that remains after all reasonable measures have been taken to avoid, minimise or mitigate the impacts of development. Under the Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM), an offset requirement is determined for the remaining impacts on biodiversity values.

Retirement of biodiversity credits: the action taken when biodiversity credits created for a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement or BioBanking Agreement are used to offset the impacts of development, clearing or biodiversity certification. Retired credits are removed from the market and can no longer be traded.

Serious and irreversible impacts (SAII): impacts that are likely to contribute significantly to the risk of a threatened species or ecological community becoming extinct in accordance with the principles set out in clause 6.7(2) of the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017. 

Site attributes: attributes used to assess site value and threatened species habitat under the previous BioBanking Scheme. The 10 site attributes are:

  • native plant species richness
  • native over-storey cover
  • native mid-storey cover
  • native ground cover (grasses)
  • native ground cover (shrubs)
  • native ground cover (other)
  • exotic plant cover (as a percentage of total ground and mid-storey cover)
  • number of trees with hollows
  • proportion of over-storey species occurring as regeneration
  • total length of fallen logs.

Site value: a quantitative measure of structural, compositional and functional condition of native vegetation, measured by site attributes under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

Species credits: the class of biodiversity credits created or required for the impact on threatened species that cannot be reliably predicted to use an area of land based on habitat surrogates. Species that require species credits are listed in the Threatened Biodiversity Data Collection (and the Threatened Species Profile Database under the previous BioBanking Scheme).

Species that cannot withstand any loss: under the previous BioBanking Scheme, in general, a species is identified as not being able to withstand any loss within a catchment management authority (CMA) if the species is known to occur in less than 3 populations within that CMA area.

Species polygon: under the previous BioBanking Scheme, this is the actual area of habitat or number of individuals of a threatened species impacted by development at the development site or by management actions at the BioBank site.

State significant development (SSD): development declared to be state significant development under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. 

State significant infrastructure (SSI): development declared to be state significant infrastructure under Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. 

Statement holder: the holder of a BioBanking Statement under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

Strategic biodiversity certification: biodiversity certification declared strategic by the Minister. Available to planning authorities listed under section 8.1 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. Strategic biodiversity certification facilitates strategic land use planning outcomes at a landscape scale.

Subject land: land subject to a:

  • development
  • activity
  • clearing
  • biodiversity certification proposal (includes the biodiversity certification assessment area) 
  • biodiversity stewardship proposal.

T-Z

Test of significance: the test established by section 7.3 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act used to determine if a development or activity is likely to significantly affect threatened species, ecological communities or their habitats.

TG value: the ability of a species to respond to improvement in site value or other habitat improvement at a BioBank site with management actions under the previous BioBanking Scheme. TG is based on the lowest value of the following: 

  • effectiveness of management actions
  • life history characteristics
  • naturally very rare species 
  • very poorly known species.

Threatened ecological community (TEC) (also referred to as endangered ecological community): a critically endangered ecological community, an endangered ecological community or a vulnerable ecological community listed:

  • in Schedule 2 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
  • under Part 13 of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. 

Threatened entities: threatened species, populations and/or ecological communities listed as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable:

  • in Schedules 1 and 2 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
  • under Part 13 of the of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. 

Threatened species: critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable threatened species or populations listed:

  • in Schedules 1 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
  • under Part 13 of the of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. 

Threatened species profile database (TSPD): the previous BioBanking Scheme database containing information on:

  • habitat characteristics
  • range
  • response to management actions
  • survey requirements
  • the class of biodiversity credits required for the species. 

It is used for calculation of ecosystem or species credits, filtering to determine the likely presence of:

  • threatened species
  • information on threatened species’ ability to withstand loss
  • threatened species’ response to management.

Threatened species sub-zone: an area of vegetation under the previous BioBanking Scheme initially assessed to determine which threatened species are assessed for biodiversity credits at a development site and a BioBank site.

Threatened species survey: a targeted survey for a threatened species under the previous BioBanking Scheme, undertaken in accordance with guidelines published by the former NSW Office of Environment and Heritage to determine if the species is present.

Total Fund Deposit (TFD): a dollar amount determined by the Environment Agency Head as:

  • the present value of the total of all management payments for a biodiversity stewardship site for the life of that Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement, or
  • the amount required to be deposited into the BioBanking Trust Fund when credits are first transferred or retired in accordance with the regulations under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

Total Fund Deposit Calculator: a tool that helps estimate the Total Fund Deposit amount and payment schedule.

Transect: a line or narrow belt along which environmental data is collected under the previous BioBanking Scheme.

Transfer of biodiversity credits: the legal transfer of a biodiversity credit from the credit holder to another person or entity. A transfer is typically associated with the sale of a biodiversity credit. 

Variation process: a process under the previous BioBanking Scheme to allow specific site factors to be considered in deciding whether a development on red flag areas will improve or maintain biodiversity values. A variation can only be made where the biodiversity values on the site are not viable or have low viability determined in accordance with scientific criteria.

Vegetation benchmarks: quantitative measures of the range of variability in vegetation condition under the previous BioBanking Scheme where there is relatively little evidence of modification by humans since European (post-1750) settlement. Benchmarks are defined for specified variables for vegetation communities. Vegetation with relatively little evidence of modification generally:

  • has minimal timber harvesting (few stumps, coppicing, cut logs)
  • has minimal firewood collection
  • has minimal exotic weed cover
  • has minimal grazing and trampling by introduced or overabundant native herbivores
  • has minimal soil disturbance
  • has minimal canopy dieback.

Vegetation benchmarks database: a database of benchmarks for vegetation classes and some vegetation types. Vegetation benchmarks can also be collected from reference sites.

Vegetation class: a level of classification of vegetation communities under the previous BioBanking Scheme, defined in Ocean shores to desert dunes: the native vegetation of New South Wales and the ACT (Keith D 2004, Department of Environment and Conservation NSW). There are 99 vegetation classes in New South Wales.

Vegetation formation: a broad level of vegetation classification under the previous BioBanking Scheme, as defined in Ocean shores to desert dunes: the native vegetation of New South Wales and the ACT (Keith D 2004, Department of Environment and Conservation NSW). There are 12 vegetation formations in New South Wales.

Vegetation types database: a database under the previous BioBanking Scheme which contains the information on each vegetation type used in the methodology and comprises a description of:

  • each vegetation type, its class and formation
  • the catchment management authority area within which the vegetation type occurs
  • the percent cleared value of the vegetation type
  • the source of the information.

Vegetation zone: a relatively homogenous area in a proposal area (development or BioBank site) under the previous BioBanking Scheme that is of the same vegetation type and broad condition. A single zone must not contain a mix of vegetation in low condition and not in low condition. Zones with the same vegetation type and in moderate-to-good condition (that is, not in low condition) can be combined within one ecosystem credit profile (as a sub-zone). A zone may comprise one or more discontinuous areas.

Viability: the ability of biodiversity values in an area to persist for many generations or over long periods of time.

Vulnerable ecological community: an ecological community specified as vulnerable in:

  • Schedule 2 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, and/or
  • listed under Part 13, Division 1, Subdivision A of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. 

Wanted Credits List: owned by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust, this lists biodiversity credits that the trust is interested in buying.

Wetland: native vegetation classified in the vegetation formation defined as freshwater wetland in Ocean shores to desert dunes: the native vegetation of New South Wales and the ACT (Keith D 2004, Department of Environment and Conservation NSW). Freshwater wetlands are areas of land affected by permanent or semi-permanent inundation by either standing or running water. The vegetation is typically dominated by shrubs, sedges or herbs.

Woody native vegetation: native vegetation that contains an over-storey and/or mid-storey that predominantly consists of trees and/or shrubs.