The Conservation, Planning and Offsets (CPO) division is part of the Conservation Programs, Heritage and Regulation group of the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
CPO oversees a range of program areas in biodiversity stewardship, conservation, planning and the NSW biodiversity credits market. It also delivers reforms to improve landholder and proponent participation in the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme (BOS).
What does Conservation, Planning and Offsets do?
The CPO division:
- administers the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme within the provisions of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016
- supports legislative reforms and scheme improvements to deliver on NSW Plan for Nature initiatives
- delivers programs and reforms to improve how the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme operates and maximise conservation outcomes
- increase the supply of biodiversity credits by proactively supporting landholders to enter into biodiversity stewardship agreements that generate priority credits (credits most likely to be in demand)
- assesses and approves new biodiversity stewardship agreements – note the Biodiversity Conservation Trust is responsible for the management of biodiversity stewardship agreements and making payments through the Biodiversity Stewardship Payments Fund (BSPF)
- operates the Biodiversity Credits Supply Fund in a way that improves the biodiversity credits market, lowering the cost of in-demand credits and increasing their availability for proponents to support the delivery of infrastructure and projects across New South Wales
- enhances conservation benefits by contributing to regional and landscape-scale conservation objectives, integrating private and public land measures and contributing to an integrated biodiversity strategy for the state
- supports consistent approaches to planning coordination and advice.
Biodiversity Offsets Scheme conflict of interest protocol
This protocol outlines mandatory requirements for employees and prospective employees of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water relating to the declaration and management of conflicts of interest arising from the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme.
NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme conflict of interest protocol
Probity and transparency arrangements
This publication provides an overview of the measures put in place to manage probity risks and issues relating to the operation of the Credits Supply Fund and support transparent and accountable decision making.
Probity and transparency arrangements
Feedback, complaints and contact form
Use this form to send us your request, feedback, or complaint. If your complaint is sensitive, please contact the division's coordination team directly at [email protected].
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is collecting your personal information through this form.
Why are we collecting your information?
We are collecting your information in case we need to contact you to follow up.
How will we share your information?
We will not share your information with anyone else unless you give your consent, or the law requires or allows us to do so.
Are you required by law to give us your information?
You are not required by law to give us your information, but if you choose not to, we may not be able to assist you.
Your right to access and correct your information
To access or correct your information, please contact:
Information Access and Privacy Unit
Locked Bag 5022 Parramatta NSW 2124
Phone: 02 8275 1095
Email: [email protected]
Further information
For more details on how your information is handled, please refer to Privacy and security.
Contact us
Biodiversity stewardship agreement enquiries
Email: [email protected]
Supply Fund and credits purchasing enquiries
Email: [email protected]