How to participate in the Nature Repair Market scheme

Both you and your project must meet the eligibility criteria to take part in the scheme.

Projects must:

• be carried out in Australia 

• not be required by law 

• not be an excluded project as specified in the Nature Repair Rules 2024

• be likely to result in us issuing a biodiversity certificate

• follow an approved method 

• meet the relevant condition thresholds to apply for a biodiversity certificate.

You must:

• have the appropriate land right or consent to carry out the project

• undergo a fit and proper person assessment.

Find out more about the eligibility requirements.  

Methods outline the activities you can conduct, and the rules and requirements for running the project. They also set out how to measure biodiversity outcomes. 

The first method available under the scheme is the replanting native forest and woodland ecosystem method. This method covers projects designed to improve biodiversity by planting a mix of local species on a previously cleared area.

Make sure you understand the eligibility, reporting and audit requirements for your method. 

Visit the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s website to find out more about the development of future methods.

The permanence period sets out the length of a project as specified in the method. This is set out in the notice of approval of registration. It covers the project life – starting at project registration and ending when the method specifies.

The Nature Repair Act 2023 details the permanence period requirements you must comply with. A method may also specify relevant permanence periods. To be eligible for a biodiversity certificate, you must meet the permanence obligation requirements. This includes taking certain steps if a reversal event affects your project.

The project’s permanence period can be:

• type A – begins when we approve the project and ends 25 years after

• type B – begins when we approve the project and ends 100 years after

• type C – begins when we approve the project and ends after a specified period detailed in the project’s method.

The registration of a project is cancelled at the end of its permanence period.

Participating in the Nature Repair Market scheme is an important business decision.

Before you apply to participate you should:

• check the project is viable

• do a cost-benefit analysis

• consider how you will fund the project

• check you have the skills and capabilities to run the project 

• understand the method 

• consider whether you intend to hold, deposit or sell your biodiversity certificate 

• consider whether you could run your biodiversity project on the same land as an Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme project 

• consider any technology or equipment you need for the project

• understand the reporting periods for your project

• decide if you want an agent to give you advice or help run your project.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has also developed PLANR – a free tool to make it easier for landholders and investors to map and plan a Nature Repair Market scheme project. For questions about PLANR, email planr@dcceew.gov.au.

You can participate in the scheme if you’re:

• an individual

• a sole trader

• a body corporate

• a local, state or territory government body 

• a trust.

Before registering a project, you need to decide who the project proponent will be. The project proponent is:

• responsible for carrying out the project

• issued the biodiversity certificate for the project

• legally responsible for meeting all obligations under the law.

You (or the landholder) can nominate a third party to run or help you run the project. 

Find out more about choosing a project proponent.

To run a project, you need to:

1. register as a scheme participant

2. register your project.

Find out more about how to apply to participate in the scheme.

You need to run your project as set out in your chosen method.

This includes complying with:

• the Act
• the Rules
• the method and incorporated documents.

Methods and the Rules specify requirements for reports. You must report on your project to receive a certificate and must report at least every 5 years. 

Reporting on your project could include:

• initial category A report

• subsequent category A report

• category B report

• audit report.

Initial category A reports

You must submit an initial category A report with your application for a biodiversity certificate. 

Subsequent category A report

You must submit a subsequent report at least every 5 years from when we issue you a biodiversity certificate (unless an exemption applies). You must also provide an assessment of the project implementation against the project plan. 

Category B reports

You must submit a category B report at least every 5 years when a biodiversity certificate hasn’t been issued for your project. The report must include an assessment of the project implementation against the project plan. 

Audit report

Projects under the replanting native forest and woodland ecosystem method will be required to provide an audit with its category A report, which accompanies your application for a biodiversity certificate. A registered greenhouse and energy auditor must prepare the audit report.

You can apply for a biodiversity certificate when the project is sufficiently progressed to have resulted in, or be likely to result in, the biodiversity outcome. We can issue one certificate per project.

You need to provide a category A report with your application. We’ll assess your claim to make sure it complies with legislative requirements and legal obligations. The project method sets out detailed requirements for when we can issue a biodiversity certificate.

If we approve your application, we’ll issue you a biodiversity certificate.

More information on applying for a biodiversity certificate is available in the method and Rules.

You can choose to sell your biodiversity certificate or hold on to it. The holder of the certificate is the legal owner. You could enter into a commercial agreement in relation to the certificate. You should seek independent legal and financial advice.

You can also apply to deposit the biodiversity certificate with us. This shows an ongoing commitment to your project. If you deposit a certificate with us, you can’t transfer it again.

The Biodiversity Market Register will list each registered biodiversity project and biodiversity certificate. The register will include details of each project, which will help market users compare and value projects.

Find out more about biodiversity certificates.

Once you register your project, you need to apply if you want to change it, update its details or cancel it. You must also let us know if certain conditions of your project change.

Vary your project

If you want to make changes to your project, you will need to submit a request to vary it. 

Make sure you understand the requirements of each type of variation before submitting the request. Variations include:

• changes to project proponents
• changes in the project area
• removal of the condition on registration.

When applying to remove registration conditions, you can use either of these forms: 

• eligible interest-holder consent form
• registered native title body corporate consent form.

Forms for varying projects will be available in 2026. Until then, you can request to vary your project by emailing naturerepairmarket@cer.gov.au.

Notify of changes 

You must notify us of certain changes to your project within specified legislative timeframes. 

You must let us know as soon as possible if any of the following changes occur:

• a prohibited activity (as defined by each method) has occurred in the project area
• an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person withdraws consent to the use of Indigenous knowledge or values
• the project plan is updated to nominate a culturally significant entity after registration.

You must let us know within 30 days if there are changes to the proponent’s name or contact details.

You must let us know within 60 days if any of the following changes occur:

• there is an event or conduct that causes, or is likely to cause, a reversal of biodiversity outcome
• there have been changes related to an eligible person, or authorised representatives of the eligible person
• the project plan has been changed
• a non-minor change in how the project is being carried out hasn’t previously been reported
• you become aware that false or misleading information has been provided to the CER in connection to a project
• you become aware of an error in the biodiversity report that is relevant to project eligibility
• you become aware of an error in the biodiversity project report related to conditions that are required for a biodiversity certificate to be issued.

You must let us know within 90 days if any of the following changes occur:

• the eligible person or any project proponents no longer have the right to carry out the project
• there is a withdrawal or cessation of the project’s regulatory approval
• there is a death of a project proponent
• there is a change to your or any project proponent’s fit and proper person status.

To submit notifications, you can use the Notify the Regulator form in Online Services, or email naturerepairmarket@cer.gov.au.

Cancel your project

We may cancel your project registration if you meet one of the following conditions:

• You haven’t met the registration conditions in subsection 17(2), 18(2) or paragraph 18(2)(A) of the Act.
• It’s been 5 years since project registration, and we’re not satisfied that you have started the project.
• We’re satisfied that the project is unlikely to result in a biodiversity certificate being issued.
• You haven’t met eligibility requirements.
• There are no project proponents.
• Someone in the project gave us false or misleading information about the project.

You may also apply to voluntarily cancel your project. To cancel your project, you can use the Notify the Regulator form or email naturerepairmarket@cer.gov.au.