The Wheatbelt Restoration Standard (WRS) is a science-based, practitioner-facing guide for planning, implementing and monitoring ecosystem restoration across the WA Wheatbelt.
The WA Wheatbelt is a globally significant biodiversity hotspot where more than 90% of some areas has been cleared. The WRS was developed through multi-stakeholder consultation including Noongar knowledge holders, government, and industry. The WRS presents a five-stage framework (Scope, Design, Finance, Implement, Monitor) that covers a seven-year project lifecycle. It is structured around three Restoration Activity Classes: values-led, market-led, and regulatory compliance-led restoration. This makes it directly relevant to companies pursuing biodiversity offsets, Nature Repair Market biodiversity certificates, and carbon credits.
The standard aligns with the Society for Ecological Restoration's 5-star recovery system and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration principles. Its practical tools include:
- WWTEC Species Tool
- SER Ecological Recovery Wheel
- Restoration barriers checklist
- Cost modelling calculators
These tools support companies and restoration managers in demonstrating outcomes. For corporate sustainability teams, the WRS provides a benchmark for assessing the quality of restoration investments and offset projects in WA. This helps organisations to avoid greenwashing and ensure that nature positive commitments translate to genuine ecological outcomes.
About the Publisher
The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute (WABSI) is an independent joint venture between leading WA research organisations, funded by the Western Australian Deptartment of Energy and Economic Diversification. Its mission is to facilitate end-user-driven biodiversity research, bridge knowledge gaps between science and decision-making, and support industry, government and community to achieve better environmental outcomes across WA. WABSI's programs span across restoration ecology, biodiversity economics, data management, and mine rehabilitation.
Join the network
Become part of a network that is making nature a priority for business.