What are Reef Credits?

Reef Credits are an innovative eco-market service designed for landholders in Great Barrier Reef catchments. By reducing sediment loss to waterways, landholders can generate income, as this sediment would otherwise harm the reef's ecosystems. Companies and organisations can purchase Reef Credits to offset their environmental impact, creating an additional income stream for landholders while helping to protect the reef.

How does DROVER work?

Dynamic Reference for Optimising Value and Erosion Reduction (DROVER) is a cutting-edge tool developed by Verterra Ecological Engineering to quantify soil movement using high-quality, multitemporal satellite data.

Here's how it works

1. Pre-Project Assessment: DROVER analyses satellite imagery to establish a baseline of groundcover for each property, detailing the land's typical response to grazing over time.

2. Post-Practice Change: Following project registration and changes in land management practices, such as implementing forage budgeting or rest periods, DROVER evaluates that latest satellite imagery and compares it with the baseline to assess the impact of practice change.

3. Quantifying the Impact: DROVER employs dynamic reference pixel modelling to calculate the benefits of increased ground cover for water quality improvement and reef health. This factors in seasonal influences such as rainfall, only measuring the success of practice change.

4. Generating Reports: DROVER produces detailed mapping products to illustrate the effects of landholders' efforts. This includes quantifying sediment loss to evaluate water quality improvements and reporting on Reef Credits. These insights help landholders understand the effectiveness of their practices and identify areas for potential adjustment for grazing productivity and credit generation.

Interested in our past work with reef credits? Read the testimonies in the Case Studies page to hear how our work has helped Queensland graziers transform their livelihoods.