Market Snapshot – July 2025
Welcoming New CEO Goslik Schepers as Maree Adshead Concludes Transformational Tenure
Eco-Markets Australia announces a leadership transition as Maree Adshead steps down as CEO after two transformative years and welcomes incoming CEO Dr Goslik Schepers.
Under Maree’s leadership, Eco-Markets Australia expanded its national and international profile, doubling the number of approved methodologies under the Reef Credit Scheme, preventing more than 60,000 kilograms of dissolved inorganic nitrogen from reaching the Great Barrier Reef, and launching Cassowary Credits, the country’s first biodiversity credit market focused on rainforest restoration.
Read Full Announcement
Incoming CEO Dr Goslik Schepers brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across high-growth, science-led ventures. With a deep background and passion for science combined with a track record in commercialising health and technology businesses, Goslik returns to the environmental sector with a clear ambition, to scale Eco-Markets Australia’s impact and position it as the benchmark in nature markets.
I’m six weeks into the role and I feel we are on track for scaling! I’m excited by Eco-Markets’ prospects and eager to apply my healthcare market experience to support the emerging Nature Finance industry.
EMA is uniquely placed as an independent, not-for-profit, to unify voices across the nature repair credit ledger—working with stewards, proponents, and government on the supply side, and industry and government on the demand side. I look forward to connecting with more market participants, especially purchasers, to better understand market pull dynamics. – Dr Goslik Schepers, CEO Eco-Markets Australia
ACWIS Public Consultation
Eco-Markets Australia is running a public consultation on the draft Australian Catchment Water Improvement Standard (ACWIS). This will be a new overarching program that will facilitate water quality improvement credits to be generated in projects across Australia and New Zealand.
The public consultation runs 18 July – 18 August 2025.
We invite your feedback on the proposed Standard at the link below. You can also watch the ‘Unpacking ACWIS’ webinar for further information.
EMA Director John Cole talks markets in Queensland Country Life
EMA Director, John Cole, wrote an article for Queensland Country Life, where he provides his opinion on the new paths offered by Environmental Markets for farmers, such as the Cassowary Credits.
“Participating landholders who undertake scientifically measurable improvements to their rainforest country can earn credits they can sell to buyers wanting to invest in environmental conservation and repair.
It’s part of a range of voluntary environmental initiatives emerging internationally emphasising the commercial “carrot” rather than the regulatory “stick” in promoting better ways to protect and restore our natural systems and landscapes.”
Fee Schedule Adopted
The public consultation on Eco-Markets Australia’s proposed fee schedule was adopted and will be made available on our website.
Engaging With Industry
Over recent months, the Eco-Markets Australia team has actively participated in key industry events, sharing insights and strengthening engagement across the sector.
ESP11 World Conference, Darwin – Eco-Markets Australia Head of Programs, Amy Basnett, presented, how to unlock private finance for environmental restoration and protection, highlighting the success of the Reef Credits and recently launched Cassowary Credits, administered by Eco-Markets Australia.
Official Opening of the Burdekin Macroalgae Bioremediation Facility – Congratulations to Pacific Bio and the Burdekin Council on the Grand opening of the Burdekin Wastewater Treatment Facility on 20th June 2025! Eco-Markets Australia could not be prouder to administer the Reef Credits project onsite under the “Method for Accounting Nutrient Reduction in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants Through Managed Bioremediation Operations”. This project prevents dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) from entering the Great Barrier Reef and is part of the solution to attaining the Reef 2050 Targets. The first macroalgal urban wastewater treatment facility in the world expected to generate its first Reef Credits in 2025!!
Cassowary Credits Community Tree Planting Day- Cassowary Coast Regional Council, in partnership with Terrain NRM, Mamu Rangers, Innisfail State College, and Eco Markets Australia hosted a large-scale community planting day on 17th July. A total of 3,500 native trees were planted on the first ever pilot site, to enhance native species habitat and rainforest biodiversity, support carbon sequestration and provide a demonstration site for landholders. IMAGE: Courtesy of Terrain and CCRC.
In the regions – Program Officer Kate Sammon, met with DPI extension staff in Townsville to discuss everything EMA, Reef Credits, Cassowary Credits and ACWIS.
These events provide valuable opportunities for Eco-Markets Australia to contribute to industry discussions, share expertise, and stay informed on key developments shaping nature finance, environmental markets and nature restoration and preservation.
Market Update
Gully Rehabilitation Project Registration
The first project under the Method for Accounting for Reduction in Sediment Run-off through Gully Rehabilitation has been registered with Eco-Markets Australia.
The Bowen Gully Rehabilitation Project #1 is located within the boundary of the Burdekin Great Barrier Reef Catchment and aims to generate Reef Credits under the Method of Accounting for Reduction in Sediment Run-off through Gully Rehabilitation – Version 1.4 via landscape rehabilitation measures with the intent to reduce the amount of sediment loss from gully erosion and thereby reduce the amount of fine sediment entering the Great Barrier Reef.
The project is estimated to start in July 2025.
Two New Pipeline Projects Registered
Two new pipeline projects have been registered under the Method of accounting for reduction in nutrient run-off through managed fertiliser application (Nitrogen Use Efficiency Method).
These projects are both located in the Herbert Great Barrier Reef Catchment.
Reef Credits Registry
14
Projects
60868
Credits Issued
41832
Credits Retired
Currently, we are aware that 15,328 Reef Credits are available to purchase.
As the independent administrator of the Reef Credit Scheme, Eco-Markets Australia ensures the integrity of the scheme through robust oversight and effective management of the Eco-Markets Australia Registry. This platform transparently tracks all approved projects and verified outcomes, enabling the secure issuance, transfer, and retirement of credits.
While we oversee these processes, Eco-Markets Australia remains independent from the commercial transactions between buyers and sellers and does not set credit prices.
For more information on Reef Credits currently available for purchase or to learn more about the buying process, please contact the Eco-Markets Australia Secretariat team.
Market Update
Cassowary Credits Wet Tropics Rainforest Recovery Program is now live.
Following an extensive assessment process the Cassowary Credits Standard and supporting Rainforest Replanting Methodology has been approved for administration by Eco-Markets Australia as a Voluntary Biodiversity Credit Market.
An Australian First: Credit Stacking
In a landmark development for environmental markets in Australia, Cassowary Credit projects are now eligible to be stacked with Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) projects under the Clean Energy Regulator’s framework.
This is the first time a biodiversity credit program has been formally endorsed for project stacking alongside a carbon credit program on the same parcel of land.
First Cassowary Credits Project Registered
Registered by Project Proponent Cassowary Coast Regional Council, the project is located on council-owned land at Ninds Creek in East Innisfail, adjacent to Moresby Range National Park. The site, previously cleared for cattle grazing, will now be restored to native rainforest through the Cassowary Credits Rainforest Replanting Methodology.
The full article is available here: Market Snapshot – July 2025
Other Updates
Unpacking Cassowary Credits Webinar
Following an extensive assessment process the Cassowary Credits Standard and supporting Rainforest Replanting Methodology has been approved for administration by Eco-Markets Australia as a Voluntary Biodiversity Credit Market.
Cassowary Credits Q&A
During the Cassowary Credits Launch Webinar we received an overwhelming number of questions which we didn’t have time to cover.
We have gone away and collated all questions and have provided a response that can be found published on the Eco-Markets Australia website.
If you have further questions about the program, please contact: secretariat@eco-markets.org.au
Cassowary Credits Registry
1
Project
0
Credits Issued
0
Credits Retired
The Cassowary Credit Biodiversity Credit Market launched on 22nd May 2025. Under this program credits are only issued after the first 2 years of project activities. This is to ensure that credits are only issued based on real, verified and measured outcomes, providing confidence to credit buyers.
As the independent administrator of the Reef Credit Scheme, Eco-Markets Australia ensures the integrity of the scheme through robust oversight and effective management of the Eco-Markets Australia Registry. This platform transparently tracks all approved projects and verified outcomes, enabling the secure issuance, transfer, and retirement of credits.
While we oversee these processes, Eco-Markets Australia remains independent from the commercial transactions between buyers and sellers and does not set credit prices.
For more information on Cassowary Credits and to discuss the credit buying process, please contact the Eco-Markets Australia Secretariat team.
