An area is eligible for declaration as an Area of Outstanding Biodiversity Value if it meets any one of the scientific criteria in clause 3.1 of the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017 and it is also significant, at least, at the NSW state scale.
Call for proposals
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is inviting proposals for refugia sites in relation to fire effects on the environment, in both burnt and unburnt areas, as Areas of Outstanding Biodiversity Value.
The widespread scale of the 2019-20 bushfires across the landscape has highlighted the importance of protecting critical conservation areas to safeguard the resilience of our species. These critical areas include sites that have been refugia for native species.
Refugia are areas where species can retreat to and persist in during periods of unfavourable conditions. These are also areas where species can expand from as the surrounding landscape regenerates, or conditions improve. The NSW Government is focusing on identifying and protecting this vital habitat to secure long-term refuges in the landscape.
Make a proposal
Guidelines and other information
The department has prepared guidelines to assist in interpreting the concepts and terms in the listing criteria.
Read the Guidelines for interpreting listing criteria for Areas of Outstanding Biodiversity Value.
Read the Areas of Outstanding Biodiversity Value: proposals fact sheet for information on preparing a proposal.
If you are considering proposing an Area of Outstanding Biodiversity Value, we encourage you to seek expert advice where appropriate.
Information sources
You can find useful data to inform the proposal in the following locations:
- BioNet Threatened Biodiversity Data Collection
- Biodiversity Values Map
- Atlas of Living Australia
- Australian Plant Census
- Australian Fauna Directory
- Fungorum
- Mycobank Database
- PlantNET
- Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
- Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017
Proposal form
Use the form to propose an area for consideration as an Area of Outstanding Biodiversity Value.
