KOALA FRIENDLY CARBON INITIATIVE: RESTORING NATURE, SUPPORTING LANDHOLDERS

A carbon credit represents one tonne of greenhouse gas emissions avoided or removed from the atmosphere. Companies buy them to offset emissions by supporting projects like reforestation or renewable energy.

Credits come from verified projects that reduce, avoid, or remove emissions, such as clean energy, forest restoration, or methane capture programs.

No. Their quality depends on factors like measurable impact, location, community and biodiversity benefits, project scale, and cost. WWF supports high-integrity carbon markets that benefit climate, nature and communities. While some credits have been misused, WWF believes in improving standards, not abandoning the system.

Unlike standard offsets, these credits are generated through environmental plantings that restore native forests and create critical habitat for endangered koalas and other wildlife. Each credit reflects a commitment to nature-positive climate action, science-led biodiversity monitoring, and collaboration with First Nations communities.

Backed by rigorous standards and deep ecological impact, Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative credits are among the highest quality Environmental Planting ACCUs in Australia and form a key part of WWF-Australia’s bold mission to Regenerate Nature by 2030.

WWF follows a simple approach to cutting carbon: first avoid emissions, then reduce them as much as possible, and only use carbon credits to offset what’s left over. This includes indirect emissions like those from suppliers and travel (known as Scope 3).

In Australia, the Clean Energy Regulator oversees the integrity of the Carbon Credit Unit scheme. WWF also supports independent verification of co-benefits, like its Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative, which is audited by Accounting for Nature. Projects must meet four key criteria: • Additionality – emissions reductions wouldn’t happen without the project. • Measurability – robust, independently verified data. • No leakage – emissions aren’t displaced elsewhere. • Permanence – carbon is stored long-term (ideally 100 years).

WWF works closely with local Aboriginal Land Corporations and Indigenous groups when developing new projects or expanding into new regions, ensuring Traditional Knowledge, connection to Country, and community priorities are respected and embedded throughout the process.

WWF is dedicated to strengthening and expanding our decades long meaningful collaboration with First Nations communities across the regions where we operate. We are committed to engaging local Indigenous contractors to collaborate with us on activities such as site preparation, planting, maintenance and monitoring for Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative projects.

WWF uses the Accounting for Nature framework to track the health of nature at its project sites. Before planting begins, we measure the condition of the land and local koala populations. Then, we check in again at years two, five and ten to see how things are improving.

Independent scientists at Accounting for Nature assess the results, so you can trust that the data is backed by credible, science-based evaluations.