Biodiversity Offsets Program outcomes

The NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust's Biodiversity Offsets Program has set functions relevant to the NSW Government’s Biodiversity Offsets Scheme.

A hand holding a stem of wattle bright yellow blossoms
381 landholders

have established Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement sites.

46,639

biodiversity credits purchased to offset development obligations and return funds to private conservation efforts.

128,457 ha

protected under Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements.

$168.6 million

in biodiversity credits purchased, returning funds to private conservation efforts.

$34.1 million

paid to Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements in the last 12 months.

59% of biodiversity credits

secured under like-for-like rules.

The NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme was established under Part 6 of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The scheme is administered by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Our role in the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme

The NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust has 3 roles under the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme.

  1. Monitor the conservation outcomes on Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement sites and support landholders.
  2. Manage the Biodiversity Stewardship Payments Fund and make conservation management payments to Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement landholders.
  3. Secure biodiversity credits using funds paid into the Biodiversity Conservation Fund by developers.

To find out more about our role in the scheme, visit our Biodiversity Offsets Program page.

Key statistics

  • Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements: 381 agreements
  • Area protected by Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements: 128,457 ha
  • Annual payments to Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement-holders in the last financial year: $34.1 million

Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements

As of 1st January 2026, 381 landholders hold Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements covering 128,457 ha. 

The NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust manages all Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements that are active through the sale of biodiversity credits. We do annual site inspections and ensure the delivery of agreed conservation management plans.

Biodiversity Stewardship Payments Fund

The NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust manages and controls the Biodiversity Stewardship Payments Fund to invest monies and make annual payments owed to landholders under the terms of their Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement. 

At 30 June 2025, the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust held $537.182 million total current assets in the Biodiversity Stewardship Payments Fund.  

From the fund, the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust made $34.1 million in annual management payments to the holders of active biodiversity stewardship sites in the past 12 months.

Securing biodiversity credits on behalf of developers

Under the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme, developers can choose to meet an offset obligation by making a payment into the Biodiversity Conservation Fund.

Cash payments received from developers are held within a Biodiversity Conservation Fund and transfer an obligation to acquire, and retire, biodiversity credits (or equivalent biodiversity offsets) to the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust.

$355.7 million

in developer payments made into the Biodiversity Conservation Fund.

66,151 biodiversity credits

secured by us – 75% of all credits ever transferred to the BCT.

Credit tender reports

Credit tender participant guides

Contact the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust

We welcome your feedback.

Phone:1300 992 688
Our website:nsw.gov.au/bct
Contact us page:Contact us
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