First Nature Repair Market project – Cooplacurripa Station
Client: Covalent Land/Silva Capital
Industry Sector: Land Management
Service: Nature Advisory
Location: Cooplacurripa Station, NSW
About this Project
Cooplacurripa Station is the first project registered under the Australian Government’s new Nature Repair Market. Niche was engaged by Covalent Land Australia on behalf of project proponent Silva Capital to deliver biodiversity assessment and advisory to support the project.
Cooplacurripa Station lies on Biripi/Birpai Country, west of Taree. Its position amongst national parks and forests gives it unique potential to reconnect critical fragmented habitats and restore native ecosystems.
First mover in an emerging market
In 2024, Niche was engaged by Covalent Land Australia to deliver starting state assessments for the Cooplacurripa Station project based on the recently released draft Replanting Native Forest and Woodland Ecosystems method, which provides a scientifically-informed framework for restoring cleared areas of land and improving native biodiversity.
Starting state assessments are required across the project area before an application to register a NRM project is made to confirm eligibility, complete an ecosystem assessment and document relevant additional features including First Peoples engagement, historical land use and threats.
Despite the initial methodology for the scheme only being a draft at the time, Niche ecologists had boots on the ground and the team delivering baseline surveys across over 450 hectares of eucalyptus forest and subtropical rainforest.
Responding to evolving environments
As the methodology was still in development, there was limited guidance on the required outcomes. But given Niche’s experience conducting complex ecological surveys aligned with government methods, the team was able to start early with this important work.
Almost six months later, when the final NRM method was released, Niche worked closely with our client and the Clean Energy Regulator to ensure the original data collected was compliant and supported the development of key documents required for the submission of the project for registration.
In August 2025, Cooplacurripa Station was announced as the first project registered under the NRM scheme.
Critical biodiversity experience
A strong grounding in environmental science is critical for nature projects like Cooplacurripa Station and Niche was able to provide on-ground expertise and environmental integrity.
Given the method that guided the assessment and application process was still in draft phase when Niche started baseline surveys, our deep ecological field knowledge and experience with existing environmental frameworks ensured we were able to effectively deliver the required work in the new territory of the NRM.
Another key aspect of the successful project was robust and flexible data management. The team deployed sophisticated systems for collection, analysis and storage of large volumes of complex ecological data. This ensured accuracy and efficiency of assessments, while also allow flexibility for ongoing analysis as the methodology and project evolved.
Trailblazers in a growing new market
Niche’s work on the Cooplacurripa Station project places us in a unique position as a trailblazer, being the first ecology and biodiversity consultancy to conduct assessments and apply the NRM methodology.
The Niche team is proud to have contributed to this project, a major milestone for Australia’s emerging nature markets.
Learn more
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Betha Westall BEnvSc, BGS
Associate – Natural Capital
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Simon Tweed BEnvSc (Hons), Accredited BAM Assessor
Manager – Natural Capital Strategy
