MEDIA RELEASE
Embargoed until: 19 October 2026

Download a copy SERA Standards V3 Draft media release_for 19102026 

Federal Environment Minister backs new National Restoration Standards

New national guidelines aims to help Australians restore the natural systems that support communities, livelihoods and future generations

As Australians face increasing pressures from biodiversity loss, climate change and degraded landscapes, a new edition of the country’s leading ecological restoration standards aims to help ensure efforts to repair nature deliver lasting results.

The Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia (SERA) launched the National Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration in Australia – Edition 3.0 (2026), at the SERA2026 Conference in Adelaide today.

The National Standards provide a shared benchmark to plan, deliver and assess restoration projects across Australasia, helping governments, communities, landholders and environmental organisations restore ecosystems.

Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, supported the launch via a video message, describing the Standards as central to delivering lasting outcomes for nature.

“These standards are key to informing the work of governments, local community groups, land holders and natural resource management groups in order to deliver enduring biodiversity benefits,,, We owe it to future generations to get this right.” said Minister Watt.

Minister Watt linked the new edition to the Government’s broader nature agenda, including reforms to the EPBC Act and work with state and territory governments on a national nature restoration framework.

Why restoration matters

Healthy ecosystems underpin many of the things Australians rely on every day, from clean water and productive fisheries to fertile soils, pollination, recreation opportunities and resilience to floods, storms and climate change. Yet many ecosystems have been degraded over time, reducing their ability to provide these benefits.

Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of damaged ecosystems so they can once again support native plants and animals, strengthen community wellbeing and contribute to a more resilient future.

“The need for environmental restoration, not just protection, was also central to our landmark reforms to Australia’s national environmental law… So this revised edition of yours really is timely,” the Minister said.

A shared benchmark for restoration done well

The Standards guide restoration and rehabilitation projects across Australia, whatever the ecosystem or scale. They give practitioners, community groups, landholders, industry and governments a common framework for planning, delivering and assessing projects, from rainforest regrowth in northern NSW to fauna-focused restoration on the Western Australian south coast.

SERA Board Chair Anita Thomas said restoration is increasingly recognised as an essential part of Australia’s response to environmental decline.

“Protecting the places that remain is no longer enough on its own. Across Australia, our members are working to restore rivers, wetlands, reefs, woodlands and coastlines that support biodiversity, livelihoods and wellbeing. As investment in restoration grows, Edition 3.0 provides a common benchmark to help ensure projects are done well and deliver lasting benefits.”

SERA’s Standards Lead Dr. Tein McDonald said: “Our aim is that every restoration project, large or small, has the best chance of reaching its recovery goals.”

What’s new in Edition 3.0

  • Aligned with the new SER International Standards (Version 3): updated to match the 2026 global standards and the latest restoration science, while keeping the concise, Australian-focused approach and updated definitions on ecosystem resilience.
  • New coverage on scaling up, particularly under climate change: emphasising both ecological imperatives and logistic challenges and opportunities presented to planners and on-ground actors.
  • Expanded links to restoration case examples, including aquatic: updated links to scores of practitioner-led reports on 14 themes, with expanded aquatic cases.  
  • Closer links to national and global biodiversity policy: new references to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (including Target 2) and Australia’s Strategy for Nature and updated Restorative Continuum guidance to support biodiversity reporting and policy implementation.

Edition 3.0 builds on the earlier editions released in 2016, 2019 and 2021, including some updates to the SER Recovery Wheel, a five-star rating tool that shows how far a project has progressed towards full recovery.

Who it’s for

  • Practitioners and community groups: a practical framework for planning, delivering and evidencing restoration
  • Government and regulators: a way to consistently benchmark for assessing programs and offsets
  • Investors, industry and project proponents: confidence that funded restoration is credible and transparent
  • Researchers and educators: a shared reference linking science to practice

Developed in partnership

The Standards were developed by SERA with 19 partner organisations, including the Australian government, Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, Australian Association of Bush Regenerators, Australian Seed Bank Partnership, Bush Heritage Australia, Gondwana Link, Great Eastern Ranges, Greening Australia, Kelp Forest Alliance, Landcare Australia, Landscape Foundation Australia, National Landcare Network, OzFish, Plant Conservation Australia, The Nature Conservancy, Trees for Life, Trust for Nature,  the Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute, and Wetland Revival Trust. They were shaped through consultation with scores of agencies, researchers, industry organisations and individual practitioners.

Availability

Edition 3.0 is available free at https://chapter.ser.org/australasia/restoration-standards/.

SERA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands, waterways, oceans and skies on which it operates across Australasia.

Media contact:
Dr Renee Young
Board member, Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia
08 9263 9811 | renee.young@wabsi.org.au

About SERA
The Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia (SERA) is a neutral, independent, non-profit organisation that connects restoration industries across Australasia and, through the peak international body for restoration (SER), globally.