Biodiversity market worth $137 billion

A national biodiversity market could be worth $137 billion by 2050 and advance conservation in Australia according to a new report by PwC.

The report found agriculture, real estate and mining can capitalise on nature-positive opportunities, and that a national biodiversity strategy is needed.

"We need to create an enabling environment that brings together government, industry and landowners to address Australia's biodiversity crisis," the report found.

PwC identified a number of financial streams which could flow into a biodiversity market by 2050 and provide the foundations for the market.

It found that $8.5 billion worth of government expenditure, $78 billion worth of private capital investment, and $11 billion from biodiversity related conservation charities could help support a market.

"We looked at what are the current market values being directed to biodiversity outcomes in Australia, alongside some of the future forecast growth...to then look at what's the potential future value of that biodiversity market in Australia," one of the report's authors Dr Lucas Carmody told AAP.

The report found establishing an Australian biodiversity market could connect landholders engaging in biodiversity restoration and management, with those willing to pay for these activities.

"This is a problem that needs the community and its broad support and it's not something government can solve alone," PwC's Neil Plumridge who helped commission the report, told AAP.

The report examined current biodiversity schemes including the one operating in NSW, and found that a system where offsets could be bought by those who cleared land was flawed.

The report concluded there is a lack of evidence that show offset schemes deliver predicted biodiversity outcomes with a risk they result in a net loss. 

"It's a cop out... you don't want to see one part of the country destroyed and then someone crops up and plants more trees...that's why the integrity component of a market is critical," Mr Plumridge said.

The report called for a market where biodiversity stewardship certificates for conservation outcomes are prioritised, and called for a national public register to be set up

It also set out the need for clearer delineation between biodiversity and carbon markets to ensure greater integrity of a biodiversity market.

Mr Plumridge told AAP a national world leading approach is needed.

"We should be all getting in behind this, public, private sector, NGOs, state governments, local governments, philanthropic, the billionaires give them a market to put their money to to work where there's potential outcomes around biodiversity outcomes."

Mr Plumridge said getting the backing of organisations like the big four banks, Macquarie bank, super funds and the farming federation of Australia, is crucial.

"It needs critical mass, it needs those who have got the voice of money," he said.

"There is a very big market here that can be created over the next couple of decades."