Legislation
- Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
- Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017
- NSW Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM) Order 2017
- BAM Order 2020
BAM operational manuals
- BAM 2020 Operational Manual – Stage 1
- BAM 2020 Operational Manual – Stage 2
- BAM 2020 Operational Manual – Stage 3
- Streamlined assessment module planted native vegetation
Biodiversity Assessment Report (BAR) Templates
- Guidance for the Biodiversity Development Assessment Report Template
- Biodiversity Development Assessment Report Template (DOCX 772KB)
- Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report template
Data, information, tools and forms
- Information about the Biodiversity Offsets and Agreement Management System (BOAMS)
- Log into the NSW Biodiversity Accredited Assessor System (BAAS)
- Access the standalone Biodiversity Offset Payment Calculator (BOP-C)
- Access the standalone Biodiversity Assessment Method Calculator (BAM-C)
- Changes implemented in the Biodiversity Assessment Method Calculator BAM-C release notes
- BAM Calculator User Guide
- Access the High Threat Weeds (also available from the NSW BioNet resources page, under BioNet Species Names – Power queries)
- Access the Native Species by Growth Form list (also available from the front of the BAM-C) (XLS 2.8MB)
- Information on NSW BioNet
- Log into BioNet Atlas database
- Log into BioNet Vegetation Classification (Veg C) database
- Access BioNet quick guides, manuals, and datasheets
- Access the archived BioMetric and Threatened Species Profiles datasets (Biobanking data)
- Access the Spot Price Index for Biobanking credit trades
- Access the Methodology Note – Biodiversity Offsets Payment Calculator – BTD (BAM credits, offset trading groups and discount rate)
- Find out how to apply for an assessment of reasonable equivalence for BioBanking credits or a BioBanking credit obligation
- Information about the total fund deposit and calculator
- Access the Vegetation Condition Benchmarks
- To transfer BOS credits use the Application to transfer biodiversity offsets scheme credits
- To retire BOS credits from the market, use the Application to retire BOS biodiversity credits
- Resources for Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements (BSA)
Survey guidelines
- Threatened reptiles – Biodiversity Assessment Method survey guide
- Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus): Biodiversity Assessment Method Survey Guide
- Surveying threatened plants and their habitats: NSW survey guide for the Biodiversity Assessment Method
- Flora Species with Specific Survey Requirements (also available from the front of the BAM-C) (XLS 2.5MB)
- 'Species credit' threatened bats and their habitats
- NSW Survey Guide for Threatened Frogs
- 2004 Threatened Biodiversity Survey and Assessment: Guidelines for Developments and Activities (Working Draft)
Other guidelines
- Guideline for applying Biodiversity Assessment Method at severely burnt sites: Biodiversity Development Assessment Report/Biodiversity Certification Assessment Report
- Guide for mapping threatened species for inclusion in the NSW regulatory framework
- Determining native vegetation land categorisation for application in the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme
Practice notes
- Guidance for assessors and decision makers in applying modified benchmarks to assessments of vegetation integrity: Biodiversity Assessment Method
- Manageable high threat weeds – improving gain on offset sites: Biodiversity Assessment Method Practice Note
- Offset rules and ecosystem credits
Biodiversity Offsets Scheme updates
The department periodically sends email updates to accredited assessors. The content of those updates is available below.
Note: We regularly update support tools and documents, so some of the information in the bulletins may have been superseded. Please ensure you check the most recent information.
From January 2022, the Accredited Assessor (AA) and Local Government (LG) updates have merged into one overarching newsletter: the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Updates (BOS Updates). The BOS Updates provide accredited assessors and local government with shared information that is consistent and up to date with the latest improvements and advice on the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme (the Scheme). We aim to improve how we communicate with our partners to help support the delivery of the Scheme. Your feedback on how we can improve is encouraged. Please submit your feedback with our Your feedback: BOS Updates Newsletter form (3 minutes).
If you would like to update your details, be added to our BOS Updates distribution list or forward this to a colleague, please sign up to our monthly BOS Update newsletters. A list of all our previous AA and LG updates can be viewed on Accredited Assessor Updates and Local Government Updates.
Most recent update
Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Update No. 24 – 29 January 2024 (PDF 130KB)
For accredited assessors
- New Biodiversity Stewardship Site Assessment Report (BSSAR) and Management Plan templates now mandatory
Biodiversity Assessment Method updates
- Forest owls changing to species credits in 2024
For credit owners and buyers
- Sell biodiversity credits to the BCT: Next Credit Tender opens 3 April 2024
- Advertise your available credits in the February/March 2024 issue of the Biodiversity Credits Catalogue
- The new Biodiversity stewardship agreement application guide is now available
- Update on biodiversity stewardship agreements (BSAs)
New payment portal
- Pay your BOS credit transfer and retirement application fees using an online payment portal
- New ‘Application fee payer’ case party type in the Biodiversity Offsets and Agreement Management System (BOAMS) is for internal use only
- Reminder to create separate BOAMS accounts for separate legal entities
General scheme updates
- Creation of the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
- Planning applications for modifications and Biodiversity Development Assessment Reports (BDARs)
- Bushfire-related clearing and the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme
