Native Vegetation Credit Register
Introduction
Information sheet number 1
In Victoria, the removal of native vegetation is regulated by
the planning system. Under clause 52.17 of the Victoria
Planning Provisions (which is part of all planning schemes
in Victoria), a planning permit is required to remove,
destroy or lop native vegetation, unless an exemption
applies. A permit to clear native vegetation typically
requires the permit holder to provide an appropriate offset.
Other approval processes, including planning scheme
amendments for large projects, may also require offsets for
native vegetation removal.
A native vegetation offset is works or other actions to
mitigate the loss of native vegetation. There are various
ways in which the permit holder can provide offsets. For
example, a permit holder may plant additional vegetation or
improve existing vegetation on their property. Alternatively,
a permit holder can offset native vegetation loss by
acquiring a native vegetation credit.
What are native vegetation credits?
Native vegetation credits are gains in the quality and/or
quantity of native vegetation that are subject to a secure
and ongoing agreement registered on the land title.
Landholders can also generate credits by transferring
freehold land to the Crown parks and reserves system.
There are three types of native vegetation credits:

Habitat hectares

Old trees

New plants
Habitat hectares
Habitat hectare credits are typically generated by protecting
and managing a remnant patch of native vegetation.
Old trees
Old tree credits are generated by protecting medium, large
or very large old trees that are located in a remnant patch
or are scattered trees. The trees must be protected from
adverse impacts and the area around the tree must be
managed to allow seedlings from the parent tree to grow.
New plants
New plant credits are generated by revegetating an area
that was previously cleared with plants indigenous to the
local area. The revegetation area requires on-going
protection to generate credits.
Generating native vegetation credits
Native vegetation credits are formally recognised once they
are registered on the Native Vegetation Credit Register
(NVCR).
For more information about registering native vegetation
credits please refer to Native Vegetation Credit Register
Information Sheet 2.
What are native vegetation credits used
for?
Native vegetation credits are typically used to meet an
offset requirement. Permit holders may contact a credit
matcher such as BushBroker or Trust for Nature, to source
a credit that matches specific offset requirements outlined
in their planning permit or other development approval. For
more information about trading native vegetation credits
please refer to Native Vegetation Credit Register
Information Sheet 3.
If you buy a credit it is important to understand that you do
not have any responsibility for managing the native
vegetation generating the credit. This responsibility rests
with the landholder.
A credit can only be used as an offset once. This is known
as allocation. After a credit has been allocated to a
particular permit or other development approval, it is no
longer available for trade or allocation. For more
information about allocating native vegetation credits
please refer to Native Vegetation Credit Register
Information Sheet 4.
Introduction
What is the Native Vegetation Credit
Register?
The Native Vegetation Credit Register’s (NVCR) aim is to
improve consistency in the standards for native vegetation
credits and transparency in how credits are traded and
used. This will provide greater certainty for credit buyers
that the credits for sale are owned by the credit seller and
are suitable to be used as an offset. Local councils can feel
confident that credits are not used more than once to meet
an offset requirement.
The role of the NVCR is to:
What are credit statements and extracts?
Credit statements show the credits that you own. They are
similar to bank statements. Credits that have not been
allocated may be traded to another person or company or
allocated to meet an offset obligation.
Allocated credit extracts record the credits that you have
allocated to meet a specific offset obligation. An allocated
credit extract can be shown to the responsible authority to
demonstrate that a particular offset obligation has been
met.
For more information about allocating native vegetation
credits please refer to Native Vegetation Credit Register
Information Sheet 4.

set minimum standards for security and management of
credit sites

register new credits (provided they meet minimum
standards)
Further information

track the trade of credits and change of ownership
records when credits have been allocated to meet an
offset obligation.
For further information on native vegetation, please contact
the Department of Environment and Primary Industries
(DEPI) Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or visit the
DEPI website at: www.depi.vic.gov.au/nativevegetation
To register credits on the NVCR, credits must meet defined
standards. This provides certainty to prospective credit
buyers and regulators that credits acquired are suitable as
native vegetation offsets.
The NVCR applies statewide register and is maintained by
the Department of Environment and Primary Industries
(DEPI).
What does the NVCR do?
The NVCR checks that the documentation submitted to
record a credit registration, trade or allocation is complete
and accurate.
The NVCR issues credit statements and extracts to credit
owners.
The NVCR is not involved in assessing planning permits or
approving other development applications. The NVCR does
not confirm that offset obligations have been met. If you
have any questions about your planning permit or offset
obligations, it is recommended that you contact the
responsible authority (typically your local council).
Published by the Victorian Government Department of Environment and Primary
Industries Melbourne, October 2013
© The State of Victoria Department of Environment and Primary Industries
Melbourne 2013
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except
in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
Accessibility
If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format,
please telephone DEPI Customer Service Centre 136 186, email
customer.service@depi.vic.gov.au (or relevant address), via the National
Relay Service on 133 677 www.relayservice.com.au This document is
also available in on the internet at www.depi.vic.gov.au
Disclaimer
ISBN 978-1-74287-518-7 (online)
www.depi.vic.gov.au
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its
employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind
or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims
all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you
relying on any information in this publication.