Apply to participate in the Nature Repair Market scheme

If you want to run a project under the Nature Repair Market scheme you need to:

1. register as a participant
2. register your project.

Before you start

You must understand the requirements of running a project before applying to participate. You also need to prepare identity documents to submit with your application.

Make sure you:

• know what a project proponent is
• can prove that the proponent has the right to carry out the project
• check your project meets the eligibility requirements of how to participate in the scheme
• understand the ongoing requirements for your project
• plan your project using PLANR – a free tool that makes it easier for landholders and investors to plan biodiversity projects
• can demonstrate how the project will likely result in us issuing a biodiversity certificate
• understand the rules for your project type
• get required consents and applicable regulatory approvals. 

If you don’t have the right consents or approvals, we can register your project with conditions.

If your project is conditionally registered, we need the following before we can issue you a biodiversity certificate:

• eligible interest-holders consent
• registered native title body corporate consent
• applicable regulatory approvals.

To help get all consents in time, you should engage early with all applicable interest-holders.

You need the necessary regulatory approvals before we can issue your project a biodiversity certificate.

To find out how to get involved or for support, email us at naturerepairmarket@cer.gov.au or call us on 1300 553 542.

How to apply

You need to apply through Online Services to participate in the scheme.

To apply to participate and register your project, complete the following steps.

Prove your identity and fit and proper person status

You need to prove your identity and pass a fit and proper person (FPP) assessment.

To do this, you will need to complete a Register an Individual or Register an Organisation form in Online Services, and provide:

• your identity documents
• relevant evidence to support your FPP assessment
• a National Police Check certificate issued in the last 12 months.

You can apply for a National Police Check online. For us to apply on your behalf, complete the paper application form [PDF 451 KB]. 

• If completing the online form, in section 2.3
  • select ‘Commonwealth Employment/Purpose’ for the purpose type
  • select ’40 – Other Commonwealth Purpose ONLY’ for the purpose of check.
• If completing the paper form, you'll need to upload in Online Services as part of your application.

Register as a participant and complete your FPP assessment in Online Services.

Register your project

Once you have submitted your online application to prove your identity and pass a fit and proper person (FPP) assessment, you can apply to register your project in Online Services.

How we assess your application

When we assess your application, we must be satisfied:

• you are who you claim to be
• your project meets the legislative requirements
• you're a fit and proper person and have disclosed any prior convictions or history of non-compliance under a range of laws
• your project meets the relevant method requirements.

We’ll let you know if we can register your project.

After we register your project, we'll send you a notice of registration. We’ll also publish your project’s details on the Biodiversity Market Register. The register lists information about every biodiversity project registered in Australia under the Nature Repair Market scheme. It also includes whether we’ve issued a certificate for the project. 

Complying with other laws and obtaining regulatory approvals

Project registration means you can participate in the scheme.

You still need to comply with any other state, territory and local requirements and laws to run your project. This includes getting regulatory approvals related to land use, the environment or water, such as permits and licences. You must do this before starting your project activity.