Land owners and managers who want to modify native vegetation in South Australia are often required to produce a significant environmental benefit (SEB) to ‘offset’ the impacts on biodiversity that would result from any clearance activity.

A SEB is usually achieved by protecting an area of land for conservation that provides environmental gains over and above any damage being done to the native vegetation.

This is because the clearing of any native vegetation results in the loss (even temporary) of habitat, biodiversity, and environmental value. To compensate for that loss, land owners and managers must provide an offset as part of a clearance application via the South Australian Government, the Department for Environment and Water. Approval to clear is required for all native plants, including dead trees in some instances, as they may provide habitat for animals.

At Council we are aware that the clearance of any native vegetation should be avoided wherever possible, but we understand that this is not always possible. To avoid negative impacts on our community from the destruction of large areas of native vegetation, Council’s Environmental Project Officers are consulted before any Council application for clearance of native species is submitted to the Native Vegetation Council.

Council has the care and control of several SEB sites following unavoidable clearing of native vegetation. When identifying potential SEB offset sites, we give priority to improving the condition of existing vegetation rather than revegetating open space.

These sites are often managed in partnership with Council’s third-party conservation partnerships, such as the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape SA, the Second Nature Conservancy (formerly known as the Goolwa to Wellington Land Action Planning Association, GWLAP), and local Landcare and Coastcare groups.

To find out how South Australia manages offsets, visit the Department for Environment and Water website.