Biodiversity Stewardship Assessment Report (BSSAR)

What is a Biodiversity Stewardship Assessment Report?

A Biodiversity Stewardship Assessment Report (BSSAR) provides an assessment of an established area of land to determine ecological value in biodiversity conservation. The BSSAR will involve an evaluation of the existing biodiversity values of the land, identification of any potential threats to habitat and threatened species and provide management strategies to protect and maintain the area’s ecological significance.

East Coast Ecology can deliver a Biodiversity Stewardship Site Assessment Report to help developers and landowners apply for a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement.

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PHONE: 02 7813 6119

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When is a Biodiversity Stewardship Assessment Report required?

A BSSAR is a mandatory requirement as part of the application process for a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW). 

Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement is a legal agreement between the owner of the land and the NSW Government to manage a specified area of land for conservation purposes. 

Under the agreement, the landowner agrees to implement specific management practices to protect and improve biodiversity in the area, such as weed control, pest management, fire management, and habitat restoration.

In exchange, such measures create biodiversity credits based on the conservation value of the land, which can be sold to developers in other projects for use in offsetting biodiversity impacts, or as a long-term financial investment. 

Biodiversity Stewardship Assessment Reports will apply to:

  • Landowners who want to conserve biodiversity on their property or leverage the Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement. 

  • Developers who are required to have a BSSAR to offset biodiversity impacts caused by a development project.

  • Government or council agencies that require a BSSAR as part of land management planning processes.

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Application process for a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement

Step 1. Land Assessment

A Biodiversity Stewardship Assessment Report (BSSAR) will be necessary to assess the state of the land, as well as to determine its suitability for conservation. This report can only be carried out by a qualified ecological consultancy like East Coast Ecology. The result of the report will include an estimate for the potential of the land to create biodiversity stewardship credits under a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement. 

2. Application Preparation

Applicants must download and fill out the Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement application form including details about any property, land ownership, and proposed management practices for biodiversity conservation.

Documents that will be required for the application include: 

  • The BSSAR

  • Property titles

  • Land management plans

  • Applicable permits or approvals

3. Submit Application

Applications can be submitted online via the Biodiversity Offsets and Agreement Management System (BOAMS), a platform which also serves to facilitate communication between applicants and the NSW Government. 

4. Assessment and Approval

During application assessments, on-site inspections may be required to provide more proof or clarify for the application. Approval will include a specific list of terms for the BSA, as well as the number of biodiversity stewardship credits and management requirements.

What is included in a BSSAR?

At East Coast Ecology, we are committed to preparing high quality Biodiversity Development Assessment Reports that are clear and easy to interpret to facilitate a quick and smooth approval process for Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement application. Our Biodiversity Development Assessment Reports are split into the following categories:

Site Description

  • Identification and description of the site, including property details such as size, tenure, and land use

  • Topography, geology, and soils

  • Climate and hydrological conditions

Biodiversity Assessment

  • Vegetation mapping and assessment

  • Fauna surveys (including threatened species)

  • Ecological community assessment

  • Habitat condition assessment

  • Identification of significant ecological features (e.g., wetlands, riparian zones)

  • Assessment of threats to biodiversity

Conservation Values

  • Identification of biodiversity values and their significance

  • Assessment of potential for biodiversity improvement

  • Determination of potential biodiversity stewardship credits

Management Planning

  • Development of a management plan to protect and enhance biodiversity

  • Identification of potential management actions (e.g., weed control, fencing, revegetation)

  • Estimation of costs and benefits of management actions

Credit Calculation

  • Calculation of potential biodiversity credits based on the assessed conservation values and management plan.

Reporting and Recommendations

  • Clear and concise presentation of findings and conclusions

  • Recommendations for biodiversity conservation and management

  • Identification of potential partnerships and funding opportunities

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Give us a call, send us an email or fill out the contact form and one of our experts will get back to you shortly.

PHONE: 02 7813 6119

EMAIL: admin@ececology.com.au