Nature Repair Market scheme

What is the Nature Repair Market?

The Nature Repair Market is a voluntary national biodiversity market scheme. It encourages people and businesses to invest in projects that restore and protect our natural environment. 

The Nature Repair Market will deliver improved biodiversity outcomes, for example, by:

• planting trees on farmland
• re-establishing vegetation along waterways
• protecting and managing existing habitat or native vegetation
• encouraging the use of biodiversity Indigenous knowledge, guided by the knowledge owners. 

Proponents can carry out projects on Australian land, waters or a combination of both.

Why participate in the Nature Repair Market scheme?

There is growing recognition that investing in nature repair is good for the economy and a resilient environment. The Nature Repair Market is intended to restore and protect biodiversity through:

• better management of environmental pressures
• the repair and protection of Australia’s rich and unique ecosystems
• supporting the unique role of First Nations people and organisations in enhancing and protecting biodiversity in native species in Australia.

By running an eligible project under the Nature Repair Market scheme, you can:

• improve the health of your land or waterways
• apply for a biodiversity certificate.

Biodiversity certificates can be sold to businesses or individuals wanting to invest in biodiversity projects.

Restoring and protecting biodiversity

Learn how participating in the Nature Repair Market scheme can have a range of environmental benefits.

Biodiversity Market Register

The Biodiversity Market Register will help you find out more about registered biodiversity projects and biodiversity certificates issued. Information about projects will be made available as they are registered. 

Learn more about the Biodiversity Market Register.

How it works

To register a project, you must apply through us. Applicants will need to demonstrate that the project will:

• use an approved method
• comply with method requirements
• likely result in the issuance of a biodiversity certificate.

Proponents who run successful projects can apply for one biodiversity certificate for each project. These certificates can be:

• retained
• sold to private buyers to generate income
• deposited with the Clean Energy Regulator.

Certificates deposited with us will still be owned by the certificate holder but would represent a commitment to the project as they cannot be transferred or sold again.

Like the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme, the Nature Repair Market scheme has methods that outline the rules for eligible projects. These methods are developed with experts and other stakeholders through processes led by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The Nature Repair Committee reviews and advises the Minister on the methods. Visit the department's website for more information about the Nature Repair Market.

The first method focuses on replanting native forests and woodland ecosystems to enable environmental restoration.  
There may be opportunities to design a planting project that meets the requirements under both the ACCU Scheme and the Nature Repair Market scheme.

Make sure you understand ACCU Scheme and Nature Repair Market scheme eligibility requirements before starting your planting activities to ensure you can participate in both schemes for the same plantings.

During the initial stages of the scheme, we will help applicants with their first applications to support project registration. To find out how to get involved or for support, email us at naturerepairmarket@cer.gov.au or call us on 1300 553 542.

Who can participate

Individuals, body corporates, local, state and territory government bodies and trusts can participate in the Nature Repair Market scheme. This could include businesses, landholders, farmers and First Nations people.

Our role

We administer the scheme by:

• assessing project applications for registration
• assessing project reporting
• ensuring scheme compliance  
• issuing biodiversity certificates
• advising and assisting applicants in relation to applications made under the scheme
• maintaining the Biodiversity Market Register of projects and certificates issued
• publishing information to support scheme participation.

The department oversees the policy for the Nature Repair Market. Visit the department's website for more information about the Nature Repair Market.
 

Legislative framework

• Nature Repair Act 2023
• Nature Repair Rules 2024
• Nature Repair (Replanting Native Forest and Woodland Ecosystems) Methodology Determination 2025

Nature Repair Committee

The Minister for the Environment and Water, with support from the department, appointed a Nature Repair Committee. The committee will consider methods, biodiversity assessment instruments and more. Visit the department’s website to learn more about the Nature Repair Committee members.