The 2021 State of the Environment report released in 2022 shows that we must do more to protect and restore Australia’s unique environment.
The Agriculture Stewardship Package is trialling market arrangements that encourage private investment in biodiversity and other sustainability opportunities.
We are looking at how to use environmental markets to increase private sector participation in delivering biodiversity outcomes. We are also ensuring integrity and genuine environmental benefits. This will build on, and learn from, existing programs, including the Carbon + Biodiversity (C+B) Pilot and Enhancing Remnant Vegetation (ERV) Pilot.
Biodiversity Pilots
We are working with the Australian National University (ANU) to deliver elements of the pilots, including:
- rules for participating
- processes for measuring, reporting and verifying environmental outcomes in landholder’s biodiversity projects.
Both the C+B (Round One) and ERV pilots are being run in 6 Natural Resource Management regions:
- Burnett-Mary in Queensland
- Central West in New South Wales
- North Central in Victoria
- NRM North in Tasmania
- Eyre Peninsula in South Australia
- South West in Western Australia.
The C+B Pilot (Round Two) is being run in 6 different Natural Resource Management regions:
- Fitzroy Basin in Queensland
- Riverina in New South Wales
- Goulburn Broken in Victoria
- Southern in Tasmania
- Northern and Yorke in South Australia
- South Coast in Western Australia.
Carbon + Biodiversity Pilots
The C+B Pilots are trialling how a market-based approach could reward landholders for increasing biodiversity. We are testing the elements developed by the ANU.
Landholders undertaking carbon plantings can also receive payments for increasing biodiversity benefits by planting a forest of a mix of native species and actively managing that vegetation.
Plantings also benefit the environment by:
- providing shelter for animals
- protecting dams and waterways
- reducing erosion.
Find out more about our Carbon + Biodiversity Pilot
Enhancing Remnant Vegetation Pilot
The ERV Pilot is trialling how a market scheme could help retain and improve existing native vegetation on privately owned lands. It is testing the biodiversity protocols developed by the ANU.
Successful landholders receive payments to manage and improve significant remnant native vegetation their properties. Relevant management activities include:
- installing fencing
- carrying out weeding
- pest control
- supplementary planting.
Applications for the pilot closed 27 October 2021.
Find out more about our Enhancing Remnant Vegetation Pilot
National Stewardship Trading Platform
The National Stewardship Trading Platform enables landholders to connect with buyers of biodiversity outcomes and kick-start private sector biodiversity markets. The platform integrates spatial information alongside buyer and seller information building transparency and credibility in the market.
Access the National Stewardship Trading Platform.
Find out more about the National Stewardship Trading Platform.
Contact us
Enquiries about the program can be directed to agstewardship@dcceew.gov.au. You can also call us on 1800 329 055.