HTML Preview Project Feasibility Analysis page number 1.
This document contains supplementary material only and is intended to be used in conjunction with the
primary reference “Guidance on Good Practice Biodiversity Offsetting in New Zealand”
Feasibility analysis—initial
development/project site assessment
Some or all of an initial site assessment may be able to be completed as a desktop
exercise. However, if little or no existing data is available, then a limited amount of
survey work will be required. More field work and feasibility analysis will be required
for detailed project design.
Burden of proof exists that
project likely offsetable
1
Concept plan for
development
What is the
ecological and
landscape context
of the site(s)?
Broadly, what does the project
look like, where will it be located,
what infrastructure/development
is required?
1. Is the site of international,
national, regional or local
importance?
2. Does the site contain
threatened, rare or unusual
species? Is it a key habitat for
these species?
3. Does the site contain
threatened, rare or unusual
features?
4. What habitat and/or
vegetation types occur?
5. How much of this
ecosystem/habitat/vegetation
type remains in New Zealand
at a national, regional or local
scale?
Refer to limits to
offsetting and
supporting data
sources.
Site
significance
Significant non-offsetable
residual adverse effects
Project design
Burden of proof does not
support offsetable project
1
If biodiversity offset still
desired, redesign
concept plan or find
another site.
Document project
changes made to avoid
or minimise ecological
impacts.
1. If appropriate level of burden of proof is not confidently
supported, then biodiversity offsetting is not appropriate and
the project should be redesigned to reduce residual effects to
an offsetable level or another site should be selected for
projects intending to provide a biodiversity offset. See:
Limits_to_Offsetting_in_New_Zealand
Back_to_Decision_Tree