Abstract 1: Cassowary Credits: Lessons Learnt From Bringing a New Conservation Finance Scheme to Life
Emerging environmental markets offer a promising opportunity to attract new sources of finance for conservation. Natural resource management (NRM) organisations are well-positioned to engage with these markets, but doing so successfully will require shifts in how we work—ensuring that emerging schemes reflect the unique values, needs, and circumstances of each region.
Terrain NRM has spent the past five years developing the Cassowary Credit Scheme, a regionally tailored biodiversity credit scheme for the Wet Tropics. While the scheme’s design is now complete and on-ground projects have commenced, the journey toward successful implementation is still unfolding—and continuing to bring valuable lessons with it.
The launch of Cassowary Credit projects marks a significant step forward in financing genuine environmental outcomes. Built on regional expertise and strong community partnerships, the scheme offers the potential to deliver measurable biodiversity gains while supporting local economies and the aspirations of Rainforest Aboriginal People.
Speaker: Bronwyn Robertson
Abstract 2: The Platy Patch: Turning Vision into Action for Urban Waterway Recovery
The Urban Rivers Platypus Recovery Initiative—The Platy Patch—is a $24 million program translating conservation ambition into impactful action across Victoria’s urban and peri-urban waterways. Led by the Arthur Rylah Institute, and in partnership with Victorian CMA’s and Melbourne Water, the state-wide program is restoring habitats for the iconic platypus and 16 nationally threatened species while enhancing green-blue spaces for communities. Funded through a unique blend of public and private investment, including the Australian Government, Victorian Government, Melbourne Water, and One Tree Planted, the initiative demonstrates how strong partnerships and co-investment can unlock large-scale delivery. The Platy Patch blends proven methods like revegetation and instream habitat with innovations such as smart rainwater tanks for environmental flows and platypus detection dogs. This presentation will showcase how collaboration, innovation, and targeted finance are transforming urban waterways—providing a model for scalable, nature-positive change that aligns with biodiversity, climate, and livability goals.
Speaker: Adam Bester & Jarod Lyon
Abstract 3: Nature-positive investment initiative being developed right here in Australia: ENVestor
ENVestor is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at driving environmental restoration and sustainability in South East Queensland. By leveraging multi-stakeholder investment, ENVestor seeks to channel new sources of blended finance into landscape-scale nature-based solutions that restore and repair the environment while offering tangible benefits to the economy and society.
Investment portfolios are grouped into several priority landscapes, to attract investment and promote sustainable practices. Healthy Land & Water’s involvement ensures these projects are guided by clear regulatory frameworks, transparent governance and incentives for sustainable practices, fostering collaboration between government, private sector, and local communities.
ENVestor has already made impressive inroads and has the potential to become world-leading with collaborative funding by government and the private sector. Private sector funding complements the $117.84 million invested by the Queensland Government into NRM.
ENVestor represents a comprehensive and collaborative effort to create a scalable model for environmental investment to benefit biodiversity, climate and people.
Speaker: Julie McLellan
