Nature Repair Market Scheme - Overview 

The Nature Repair Market Scheme (Nature Repair Market) is a Commonwealth Government Scheme established to provide a framework for individuals and organisations to do nature repair projects. A Nature Repair Market project protects and restores the environment and generates a certificate that can be sold on the market. The Nature Repair Market started in early 2025 and is governed by the Nature Repair Act 2023 and Nature Repair (Biodiversity Assessment) Instrument 2025. The market, while operational, is still in an early phase of development.

As of August 2025, there is only one nature repair method, Replanting Native Forest and Woodland Ecosystems, and it doesn't apply to large areas of Northern Australia. ICIN is working with member organisations such as the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA) and the Indigenous Desert Alliance (IDA) to develop methods relevant to ICIN members, this includes the Introduced Hooved Animal Management method and the Indigenous fire management method. 

Nature Repair Market - Indigenous Rights and Interests

The Nature Repair Market offers a significant opportunity for Indigenous land and sea managers to place an economic value on their work to care for their Country, particularly as Indigenous people hold significant rights and interests to land and sea. Having rights in relation to a nature repair project gives Indigenous groups and organisations a seat at the table to negotiate the type of project or outcome that works for them. This includes how and when they want to participate, to what extent the project draws on their traditional and cultural knowledge and how this knowledge is or isn’t shared.

Recognising that land was never ceded, the 'ICIN Nature Repair Map 2025' identifies Indigenous rights and interests recognised under the Nature Repair Market Scheme. Indigenous rights have been grouped into classes based on the relative ‘strength’ of that right. The Nature Repair Market legislation recognises additional Indigenous rights and interests compared to the ACCU Scheme, this includes recognising rights in areas with an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) or a native title claim.

ICIN's analysis indicates that Indigenous people are responsible for making decisions regarding nature repair projects across approximately 71% of Australia's landmass, including the ability to refuse consent (say no or veto) to projects across 59% of land (Classes 1-3), and the right to be 'appropriately engaged' across an additional 18% of land (Classes 4 and 5). 

With the right policy settings, methods, and support, Indigenous people have the opportunity to be leaders in the Nature Repair Market.

ICIN Nature Repair Map- Indigenous Rights and Interests

This map and legend are based on ICIN analysis and interpretation, 2025, version one.

Note: The dataset underlying this map is based primarily on publicly available spatial data, complemented by private information sources. It is acknowledged that there may be some errors in the dataset and that Indigenous land and sea interests are broader than what is presented in the dataset. Further, due to the scale of the analysis, the data should not be relied upon for accuracy at a local or project-level scale.

This may also be a useful resource: Native Title Visualisation Tool.