Environmental offsets are positive measures that can be taken to counterbalance certain unavoidable negative environmental impacts of development.

Offsets can be applied to:

• greenhouse gas emissions
• waste management
• emissions to water and air
• vegetation management
• other environmental management issues (such as loss of habitat and biodiversity).

For example, under certain circumstances, the clearing of vegetation for a development may be offset by the management and protection of another area of ecologically equivalent vegetation.

The Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) has an operational framework for vegetation management offsets.

NRW has developed an environmental offsets exchange that assists developers to locate suitable vegetation where developers require an offset for vegetation or koala habitat. 

Further information

For more information email Environmental Offsets Exchange  or contact NRW on (07) 3405 6627.

Environmental Offsets Exchange
Program Initiatives
Department of Natural Resources and Water
GPO 2454, Brisbane Q 4001

Fax (07) 3405 6969