About Credits Near Me NSW

The Credits Near Me app can help landholders discover potential value in protecting existing habitat and ecosystems on their property. It can also help find areas where biodiversity credits can be created. Users can look up specific credit types or navigate across the map more broadly.

The app includes links to useful resources that can assist users. More information can be found under the ‘i’ icon found at the top right-hand corner of the application home screen.

Note: the app may use your location. The mapping used in this application is indicative only. Decisions made at the property-scale should be based on an on-ground site assessment.

About the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the variety of living animal and plant life from all sources, and includes diversity within and between species and diversity of ecosystems.

What is the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme?

The NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme is the framework for offsetting unavoidable impacts on biodiversity from development with biodiversity gains made on land that is protected in perpetuity.

Under the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme:

• landholders who commit to protecting native vegetation and species on their land, by entering biodiversity stewardship agreements, can create and sell ‘biodiversity credits’.
• developers are required to obtain and retire a certain number and type of biodiversity credits to compensate for their unavoidable impacts on biodiversity.

About biodiversity credits

What are biodiversity credits?

Biodiversity credits are used in the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme to measure both:

• the loss of biodiversity from development and clearing.
• the predicted gains in biodiversity at a site covered by a biodiversity stewardship agreement.

What types of biodiversity credits are there?

There are two types of biodiversity credits:

1. Ecosystem credits: Measure the value of ecological communities, threatened ecological communities and habitat for threatened species that can be reliably predicted to occur within a Plant Community Type.
2. Species credits: These types of credits measure the value of all other threatened species that are not closely linked with those Plant Community Types.

Note: currently, the Credits Near Me app only includes information about potential ecosystem credits; it does not include information about potential species credits.

What is a Plant Community Type?

A Plant Community Type (PCT) is a grouping of native plants that live together, in a particular pattern, in the natural landscape.

What is an Offset Trading Group?

A ‘like-for-like’ Offset Trading Group (OTG) is a group of similar Plant Community Types that have been cleared since European settlement to the same or a higher extent to a Plant Community Type that is impacted by development.

Supply of biodiversity credits

How accurate is the information about potential credits in the map?

The information in the map about potential credits is indicative only, and its accuracy may vary, particularly at the property scale.

To confirm the number and type of potential credits on your property, you will need to engage an accredited assessor to undertake a site assessment. Check the ‘Accredited Assessor Public Register’ for a list of accredited assessors in NSW.

Where can I find information about the existing supply of biodiversity credits?

Links to information about supply, demand and pricing for biodiversity credits can be found on the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme website.

Who wants to buy biodiversity credits?

Typical buyers of biodiversity credits are:

• developers seeking to offset their project’s unavoidable impacts on biodiversity by acquiring credits.
• the Biodiversity Credits Supply Fund who buys credits from landholders through reverse autctions and sells them to developers
• the Biodiversity Conservation Trust seeking to secure offsets for developers who have paid into the Biodiversity Conservation Fund.
• Other buyers such as government bodies or philanthropic organisations using the market to achieve conservation outcomes.

Demand for biodiversity credits

What is the ‘in-demand’ information in the app?

The ‘in-demand’ information in the app indicates potential for people willing to buy credits in a particular Offset Trading Group.

The information is currently based on the following sources:

• The Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Credit Demand Register
• The in-demand credits search tool

Find out more information on credit sources.

Note: these sources do not capture all demand for credits. Therefore, even if an Offset Trading Group does not show as being ‘in demand’ on the Credits Near Me app there may be demand for this credit type in the future as demand changes over time.

Where can I find more information about demand for biodiversity credits?

Links to information about supply, demand and pricing for biodiversity credits can be found on the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme website.

How do I find out about the price of credits?

The Biodiversity Credits Market Sales Dashboard presents a market overview and the latest prices for biodiversity credits

Next steps

I have potential in-demand credits on my property, what should I do next?

As a next step, you can request to be notified when the Stewardship Support Program is open for applications. Landholders with potential to generate in-demand biodiversity credits may be eligible to receive a free biodiversity assessment through the Stewardship Support Program.

For more information, visit the Generate credits with a biodiversity stewardship agreement webpage.

How do I create credits on my property?

Credits are created when the landowner enters into a biodiversity stewardship agreement. More information can be found on the Apply for a biodiversity stewardship agreement webpage.

Who should I speak to for more information about the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme?

If you have any questions about the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme, please visit the website or contact our helpdesk on 1800 931 717 or BOS.Helpdesk@environment.nsw.gov.au

Credit Buyers

As a credit buyer how can I get more help?

Credit buyers can get help to source biodiversity credits, or to find more information, submit a Credit Demand Expression of Interest.

If you already know your credit obligations, you can use Credits Near Me NSW to find like-for-like offset types. Use the ‘Find’ button to search for relevant OTGs either by a direct OTG search or by association to plant community type.

App feedback

To provide feedback on the Credits Near Me app or to subscribe to receive emails about important updates to the Biodiversity Offset Scheme, please follow the link below to our feedback and subscription form.

Feedback and subscription form

Source Data

NSW Ecosystem Offset Trading Group Map

The map of credit types in Credits Near Me NSW is sourced from the NSW Ecosystem Offset Trading Group Map.

The NSW Ecosystem Offset Trading Group Map is a regional scale map of candidate non-threatened Ecosystem Offset Trading Groups as defined under the NSW Biodiversity Offset Scheme. The map covers all of NSW.

Note: The map is indicative only. Decisions made at the property-scale should be based on an on-ground site assessment.

Areas absent from the map are areas within NSW that are currently considered ineligible for Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements.

The mapped Offset Trading Groups are generated by a direct translation of the NSW State Vegetation Type Map (SVTM vC1.1.M1.1) according to the Biodiversity Assessment Method Table 5.

This map is updated periodically in response to updates to the NSW State Vegetation Type Map or other relevant information.

In-Demand Types

Credits Near Me NSW also highlights in-demand credit types. The list of in-demand types is sourced from:

• The Biodiversity Offset Scheme Public Register
• The in-demand credits search tool

The Biodiversity Credits Supply Fund makes credits easier to sell and buy, improving the functioning of the biodiversity market.

Credits Near Me aims to reflect the most up-to-date data from these sources, although there may be some delays in reflecting changes to the in-demand data in the app.

SEED (Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data portal)

SEED has been developed with and for the community of NSW, as a central place for everyone to find data about the NSW environment. It is a web-based portal where the community and government come to access, interrogate, contribute, and share NSW environmental data. SEED streamlines the discoverability and accessibility of environmental data, which ultimately empowers evidence-based decision making and increased trust through greater transparency. Check out seed.nsw.gov.au

Suggest changes or updates

SEED has improved the way you can provide feedback, allowing users to submit more detailed feedback or suggestions on the datasets, tools or the SEED portal. We encourage you to provide feedback on the NSW Ecosystem Offset Trading Group Map (the map that underpins Credits Near Me NSW). To do so, go to the SEED Map and load the NSW Ecosystem Offset Trading Group Map. There you can use the ‘Provide Feedback’ tool. This feedback will make then its way to the map custodian for review.

MapBox

Maps in the Credits Near Me NSW app are provided by MapBox.

© Mapbox
© OpenStreetMap
Improve this map

Version Information

Map: NSW Ecosystem Offset Trading Group Map v0.5

The Credits Near Me NSW app is a project of the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water works to protect the state’s environment and heritage. It leads the way on climate change, driving the sustainable transition to a net zero economy, powered by affordable, reliable, and clean energy. The DCCEEW website is www.environment.nsw.gov.au

App Recognition

This app was developed collaboratively by teams from: 

Science and Insights division

Nature Markets and Offsets division

Photo Credits

Thank you to the following DCCEEW photographers:

Title page - Kevin McGrath
Intro screen one - Simon Cottrell
Intro screen two - Peter Robey
Intro screen three - Peter Robey

Published by

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Locked Bag 5022, Parramatta NSW 2124
Phone: +61 2 9995 5000
Phone: 1300 361 967 (Environment and Heritage Group)

TTY users: phone 133 677, then ask for 1300 361 967
Speak and listen users: phone 1300 555 727, then ask for 1300 361 967
Email: info@environment.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au

Report pollution and environmental incidents
Environment Line: 131 555 (NSW only) or info@environment.nsw.gov.au

Copyright

© State of New South Wales (Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) (unless otherwise indicated).

Unless otherwise stated, Department material available on this application or website is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) or Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). Terms and conditions of the licences can be viewed at Creative Commons (CC BY) and Creative Commons (CC BY-NC).

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water asserts the right to be attributed as author of the original material in the following manner: "© State Government of NSW and Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water 2024". We also request that you observe and retain any copyright or related notices that may accompany this material as part of the attribution.

The Department's privacy practices are regulated by the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) (PPIP ACT) and the Department's Privacy Management Plan (PMP).

Collection of your Personal Information

The Department does not collect any personal information to deliver our App. You may, when prompted by your device, share your location with the App. This information is not stored. If you choose not to share your location with the App you will still have access to all features, except being able to locate your position in the map.

Anyone engaged to collect, store or use personal information for the Department will be required to comply with the PPIP Act and the Department’s Privacy Management Plan.

Please note that the Department does not have any responsibility for the privacy policies or practices of third party sites linked to this website.