What is a vegetation offset?
When vegetation is cleared by a business or project, it needs to be offset by establishing remnant vegetation (trees) in a location that provides long-term environmental sustainability.
Private landowners can provide land that supports this process, and be paid for it.
Is my land suitable to provide a vegetation offset?
If your property contains quality regrowth or remnant vegetation, offsets may prove beneficial to your enterprise. Areas suitable for offsets need to be:
- larger than two hectares in size
- connected to existing remnant vegetation
- reasonably weed free.
Areas with full tree cover that do not require any revegetation are usually preferred.
Less productive sections of your property that have been allowed to regenerate will often be the most suitable offset areas because they will fit within your production system.
The best way to know if your land is suitable for an offset is to call a specialist at Unidel and arrange an appointment.
How does an offset work?
Unidel arranges the relationship between you and the offset project owner, and manages and maintains the site for the project's duration.
If you engage in an offset arrangement, you will enter into a legal agreement with the business or person undertaking the offset project. This is usually through a covenant, voluntary declaration or similar mechanism.
The offset land remains in your ownership, but there are certain constraints on using the land; typically no logging, thinning or clearing is allowed and restrictions are placed on grazing frequency and stock and traffic movements. A vegetation management plan - agreed by all parties - is drawn up to specify these rules.
The offset project owner pays you a fee to use your land - not unlike a lease arrangement. Funds are usually paid upfront at approval stage or they can be paid over time or via an annuity. This can be negotiated.
We will often engage contractors to undertake capital works on the site (fencing, off stream water points, developing fire breaks and soil conservation works). However if you are qualified to provide these services, we will offer it to you in the first instance, which adds to your income stream.