This week marks the launch of a new biodiversity Standard developed under the ENVOMARK Value Nature Framework, which assures integrity, transparency and scientific rigour. ENVOMARK Reef Credits have become an international benchmark for voluntary water quality markets, rewarding land stewards that demonstrate improved water quality outcomes for the Great Barrier Reef. The Australasian Biodiversity Improvement Standard (ABIS) was officially launched on Tuesday 22nd September with a participatory Technical Webinar provided by Eco-Markets and proponents on Thursday 24th September.
Launch – 22 September, 2026
Leaders from government, science, conservation, finance and industry gathered at University of Queensland’s iconic Customs House on Tuesday 22 September 2026 for the official launch of the ENVOMARK assured Australasian Biodiversity Improvement Standard (ABIS), a landmark Standard designed to support high-integrity biodiversity projects and accelerate investment in nature-positive outcomes across Australasia. Importantly, this new Standard aligns with other ENVOMARK assured standards, encouraging stacking for environmental co-benefits, allowing more accurate accounting and valuing of nature repair outcomes.
Hosted by Eco-Markets Australia and sponsored by the Reef Catchments Science Partnership, The University of Queensland, the event marked a significant milestone in the development of biodiversity markets and highlighted the growing global momentum behind investment in nature.
The ABIS has been developed to provide a rigorous framework for measuring, validating and recognising biodiversity improvements. By establishing clear requirements for project design, monitoring, reporting and independent verification, the Standard is intended to build confidence among landholders, project developers, communities, governments and investors seeking credible biodiversity outcomes.
Amy Basnett, Head of Programs at Eco-Markets presented on the purpose of the Standard, its alignment with emerging Australian and international nature-positive policy frameworks, and its role within expanding global voluntary biodiversity credit markets.
“ABIS is the newest addition to Eco-Markets’ suite of integrated ENVOMARK assured Standards which provide a high-integrity framework to deliver verified outcomes achieved for nature, converted into Credits which can be purchased for both ESG and compliance purposes,” Ms Basnett said.
Her presentation highlighted the growing economic opportunity associated with biodiversity investment. According to Bloomlabs, the global voluntary biodiversity credit market has experienced approximately 22 per cent growth since 2022 and generated an estimated US$7million in revenue. Projections from the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and Goldman Sachs suggest the market could expand to between US$2 and US$5 billion by 2030.
“The opportunity to scale voluntary biodiversity markets alongside compliance mechanisms is real,” she said. “Countries around the world are introducing policy levers to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, creating demand for credible, measurable and verifiable biodiversity outcomes. ABIS positions Australasia to participate in that global transition, and aligns with Government initiatives such as the Nature Repair Market, Australian Carbon Credit Market and Biodiversity Offset Scheme.”
The highlight of the launch was a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Eco-Markets’ CEO, Dr Goslik Schepers, who led an engaging conversation on the future of biodiversity credits, environmental integrity and nature finance.
The panel featured Dr Karen Hussey, Chair of the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC); Professor Martine Maron, conservation scientist in UQ’s School of the Environment; Tom Espinoza, CEO of the Burnett Mary Regional Group and a quantitative ecologist; and Nerida Bradley, an experienced environmental markets, policy and governance leader with Planet & Place.
The session discussed the role of markets to support nature repair and restoration, emphasizing that Australia has a leadership position with existing strong institutions, quality scientific rigour and globally respected market infrastructure ready to support scalable nature repair. Backed by emerging government regulations that recognize environmental markets, the panel reflected on the role of voluntary markets to sit alongside government regulated initiatives to deliver high-integrity solutions that are needed to stem the decline in Australia’s natural capital.
Dr Schepers remarked “It was a privilege to coordinate a conversation with such experienced and delightful panel members. Their clarity of thought and openness to discuss complex and sometimes controversial topics made my job easy on the night.” Some key take aways from the session included inspiring responses on our reciprocal responsibilities to nature, improving threatened species habitat because ‘it’s the right thing to do’ and that there is no ‘landowners’ just temporary stewards whose actions are passed through to future generations.
Discussions also reflected a broader shift globally, with biodiversity loss considered alongside climate change as a critical risk for governments, investors and businesses. As nature-positive policies become the flavour in an attempt to reverse the damage, demand is expected to grow for approaches that can verify environmental outcomes and attract meaningful corporate investment int conservation action.
Throughout the event, speakers emphasised that biodiversity markets are not a replacement for traditional conservation funding, but rather an opportunity to mobilise additional private capital to complement public investment and support long-term stewardship of ecosystems and species.
The launch confirmed a sense of momentum and optimism about the future of nature markets in Australasia. With growing international demand for nature-positive solutions and increasing policy support for biodiversity action, ABIS represents an important step towards creating a credible and investable framework capable of delivering meaningful outcomes for biodiversity, communities and future generations.
Technical Webinar – 24 September, 2026
The ABIS extends Eco-Markets’ suite of integrated standards that all share the same mechanics and are designed to allow carbon, water and biodiversity to all be stacked on a single parcel of land. This approach provides the granularity and versatility required to accurately value nature. Bundled or sold separately, nature co-benefits can finally be valued separately providing greater confidence in the value of nature co-benefits.
After the launch event, Eco-Markets will host a technical webinar, where the unique aspects of this biodiversity standard can be explained and explored. With over 100 registered participants, the technical webinar is accessible to all across Australia and New Zealand. As environmental markets begin to scale, Eco-Markets is at the forefront of water quality markets with Reef Credits and stacking with both Rainforest Replanting and Grazing Land Management methodologies officially recognized by the Clean Energy Regulator for stacking with ACCUs. This pedigree form the basis for the next wave in integrated methodologies that can tap into different nature markets for greater value recognition and transparency.
The launch of the ENVOMARK assured Australasian Biodiversity Improvement Standard (ABIS) signals Eco-Markets’ ambition to remain at the forefront of markets and extend the emerging global biodiversity economy, helping transform biodiversity improvement from a conservation imperative into an investable opportunity.
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