Stop run-off from your property.
be rewarded for it.
Carbon and Water quality projects Pilot Program
AgriProve has partnered with Verterra Ecological Engineering and Meat and Livestock Australia to give Australian graziers access to water quality credit markets -- a new program that rewards landholders for the land management improvements they are making.
Most graziers have heard of soil carbon projects. Fewer know that the same improvements to ground cover and grazing management that build soil carbon also strengthen land condition, productivity, and resilience -- and are recognised by water quality markets as well.
AgriProve and Verterra have partnered to deliver both on a single property, with Meat and Livestock Australia funding the water quality project setup for eligible participants. There is no upfront cost to find out if your property qualifies, and no obligation to proceed until you are ready.
Build what is in your soil. Stop what runs off it. Be rewarded for both.
Soil carbon credits | Regulated
Soil carbon projects generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) under the government-regulated ACCU Scheme, administered by the Clean Energy Regulator. ACCUs are a well-established market with government backing and a functioning secondary market. AgriProve manages your project from feasibility assessment through to ACCU issuance and ongoing reporting.
Water quality credits | New opportunity | Stop runoff from your property and be rewarded for it
The Australasian Catchment Water Improvement Standard (ACWIS) is a new water quality credit methodology, developed and administered by Eco-Markets Australia under the ENVOMARK Value Nature framework. ACWIS are a voluntary market mechanism that rewards landholders for measurable improvements in ground cover and reductions in sediment and nutrient runoff into waterways.
In Queensland Reef catchments, the equivalent mechanism is ENVOMARK Reef Credits, also administered by Eco-Markets Australia. Both operate under the same voluntary market framework.
ACWIS is newly launched. That means graziers who get involved now are entering an emerging market early -- with the support of an MLA-funded programme designed to demonstrate the benefits and build the evidence base for wider adoption.
AgriProve and Verterra will get your property set up for both soil carbon and water quality projects, with the water quality setup funded by MLA. Stronger land condition, productivity and resilience are yours regardless -- and you keep the lion's share of any ACCUs and ACWIS credits generated.
Two markets. Both open to eligible graziers.
There are currently two water quality credit markets available to Australian graziers, depending on where your property is located.
Reef Credits | Queensland Reef Catchments
Reef Credits are a voluntary environmental market established in 2017 and administered by Eco-Markets Australia. They reward graziers in Great Barrier Reef catchments for measurable reductions in fine sediment runoff.
One fine sediment Reef Credit represents 538 kilograms of fine sediment prevented from reaching the Reef. Credits are calculated following a rainfall event using satellite-based ground cover data and independently verified before issuance.
Eligible properties must be within one of the six Great Barrier Reef NRM Regions: Cape York Peninsula, Wet Tropics, Burdekin, Mackay-Whitsunday, Fitzroy, or Burnett-Mary.
ACWIS Standard | Murray-Darling Basin and National
The Australasian Catchment Water Improvement Standard (ACWIS) is a new water quality credit methodology launched in November 2025 and administered by Eco-Markets Australia. It extends water quality crediting beyond the Great Barrier Reef catchment to river basins and waterways across Australia where water quality improvement targets have been set.
For graziers in the Murray-Darling Basin, ACWIS provides the equivalent mechanism to Reef Credits -- rewarding ground cover improvements and measurable reductions in sediment runoff into the Basin's waterways. ACWIS is a new market with an emerging buyer base, which means graziers who enter now are early participants with the opportunity to help shape how the market develops.
Is your property eligible?
Stacked projects are available to commercial grazing operations in two priority regions.
Queensland Reef Catchments
Properties within one of the six Great Barrier Reef NRM Regions: Cape York Peninsula (eastern seaboard draining catchments only), Wet Tropics, Burdekin, Mackay-Whitsunday, Fitzroy, or Burnett-Mary. Water quality credits are generated as ENVOMARK Reef Credits under the Eco-Markets Australia registry.
Murray-Darling Basin
Properties within the Murray-Darling Basin located within 250km of the relevant waterway. Water quality credits are generated as ACWIS water improvement Credits, administered by Eco-Markets Australia.
To be eligible your property must:
• Run a commercial grazing enterprise
• Have a minimum property size of 1,000 hectares
• Fall within an eligible catchment area, within 250km of the relevant waterway
• Be willing to share property data and management records
• Be prepared to implement grazing management practice changes
Cropping enterprises are not eligible for water quality credits under the Grazing Land Management method. Mixed enterprises should contact us to discuss their specific situation.
Learn more
The AgriProve knowledge base covers everything you need to understand how stacking works, what it costs, whether your property qualifies, and what participating involves. Visit the AgriProve Knowledge Base here.
Find out what your land could return.
Registering an expression of interest is free and takes minutes. It is the first step toward understanding what better land management could return for your property. A combined AgriProve and Verterra team will review your property details and come back to you with an initial eligibility assessment. From there, you decide whether to proceed.
