Nature Positive Incentives

Strategies for positioning properties as tax-effective assets

01

Manage the property as a primary production cabinet timber plantation and/or mixed agroforestry enterprise.

Operational expenses are tax deductible the year incurred. Land purchase and establishment costs after harvest. Gain primary production land tax exemption.

02

Generate and sell biodiversity certificates  through the Nature Repair Market & carbon credits  (ACCU’s) through the Australian Carbon Credit Scheme.  Stack both carbon and biodiversity credits using environmental planting methods. Additional primary production unlocks land tax exemptions.

03

Voluntary Conservation Agreements

Long-term protection of high conservation value habitats while maintaining ownership and use of the land. Access financial support such as annual management payments and grants and income tax deduction for the drop in land market value.

04

Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement

Long-term protection for high conservation value habitats and access to financial incentives. A market-based approach that incentivizes landholders to manage their land for conservation, generating biodiversity credits that can be sold to offset development. 

01. Primary Production

Biodiverse Tree Farms (Agroforestry  &  Farm Forestry) can be established to allow small to medium landholders to achieve primary production status and associated tax benefits. Plantations can be situated on unproductive land and as shelter belts or windbreaks which help improve both production and biodiversity.  Re-WildScape assists in planning  integrated cabinet timber plantations that restore habitat, reduce erosion, support productive land use and are a long-term commercial venture.  Expenses, such as establishment, maintenance, and operational costs are tax deductible,  making agroforestry not only ecologically beneficial but also financially strategic. Additional support may be available through grants and incentive programs aimed at sustainable land management and biodiversity restoration.

02. Biodiversity & Carbon Credits

Biodiversity and carbon markets offer landholders new pathways to generate income while restoring native ecosystems and contributing to national environmental goals. Under the Nature Repair Act 2023, landholders can participate in a voluntary, legislated biodiversity market by undertaking eligible projects—such as replanting native forest and woodland ecosystems—to earn tradeable biodiversity certificates. Eligible projects can also  stack biodiversity certificates with ACCU carbon credits under the Australian Carbon Credit Scheme.  This means that two income streams can be generated from  one planting - carbon credits from the timber biomass and a tradable biodiversity certificate,  that increases in value as the site's biodiversity increases.   These emerging opportunities are a long-term business decision that require sustained commitment, with returns dependent on project design, successful delivery of biodiversity outcomes, and the evolving demand within the biodiversity credit market.

03. Voluntary Conservation Agreements (VCA)

Voluntary Conservation Agreements are suited to landholdings with  high ecological values. This is the primary tax pathway for "lifestyle" landholders who do not meet the ATO's strict commercial primary producer tests. In return for permanent protection of the land’s conservation values, landholders may be eligible for tailored financial and technical support such as annual management payments, assistance with on-ground works, and access to grant programs to support activities such as weed control, fencing, and habitat restoration. Income tax deduction for the drop in land market value can be claimed over 5 years. These agreements are flexible and are negotiated to reflect the landholder’s goals.

04. Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement (BCA)

A Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement enables landholders to generate and sell biodiversity credits by permanently protecting and actively managing high conservation value areas on their property. These credits can be sold to developers or other entities with offset obligations, creating a significant and ongoing income stream. The agreement also supports landholders in enhancing habitat quality through approved management actions such as weed control, fencing, and revegetation. While the agreement is legally binding and perpetual, landholders retain ownership and continue to use the land in ways compatible with biodiversity goals. This pathway offers both financial reward and the opportunity to play a leading role in conserving threatened species and ecosystems.

Partnering for a Nature Positive Legacy

An early adopter of emerging environmental markets and nature-positive initiatives, Re‑WildScape is well positioned to support landholders to explore site-appropriate incentives to unlock both the ecological and financial potential of their properties.  These projects require long-term landholder commitment and independent economic advice.


Re-WildScape provides:

  • Evaluation of natural capital, ecosystem services and environmental services. 
  • Identification of beneficiaries and value
  • Eligibility checks for biodiversity, carbon, or conservation schemes
  • Selection of the most appropriate project method and permanence period
  • Ecological assessments and habitat restoration planning
  • Advice on choosing a project proponent or acting on your behalf
  • Ongoing project coordination and monitoring
  • Support with reporting requirements and application for biodiversity certificates once milestones are achieved