Biodiversity and Native Vegetation Management

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016

The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 guides the compliance and regulations for native vegetation management. The Act applies to all native vegetation including trees, shrubs and plants on public and private land.

The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 uses specific guidelines for vegetation clearing including thresholds for the amount of vegetation that can be permissibly cleared. Vegetation clearing exceeding these thresholds will require the developer to purchase biodiversity offsets through the Biodiversity Offset Fund. For agricultural purposes, vegetation clearing assessments are regulated by the Local Land Services Act 2013.

Under the Act, there are opportunities for landholders to earn an income by managing and conserving vegetation under a stewardship agreement. Stewardship agreements are developed through the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust fund designed to support landholders, farmers and other organisations who wish to participate in private land conservation.