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 is delivering improved biodiversity outcomes, for example, by encouraging:

• 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.

Nature Repair Market scheme methods

A methodology determination (method) is a set of requirements and rules for running a project under the Nature Repair Market scheme. 

Each method includes:

• conditions for project registration
• how you need to measure biodiversity outcomes
• monitoring, record keeping and reporting requirements
• when a biodiversity certificate can be issued. 

You must run your project in accordance with the method you've chosen.

Biodiversity Market Register

The Biodiversity Market Register will help you find out more about registered biodiversity projects and biodiversity certificates issued. Information about projects is made available on the Biodiversity Market Register when they are registered.

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 department engages experts to provide technical analysis to inform method development. 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.

There may be opportunities to design a Nature Repair Market project on the same area of land as an ACCU Scheme project. Each project must meet the requirements under the relevant schemes.

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

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 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 of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water oversees the policy for the Nature Repair Market. For more information, visit the department’s website.

Legislative framework

• Nature Repair Act 2023
• Nature Repair Rules 2024

Nature Repair Committee

The Minister for the Environment and Water, with support from the department, appointed a Nature Repair Committee. The committee advises the Minister on methods and biodiversity assessment instruments.

Visit the department’s website to learn more about the Nature Repair Committee members.