The Australian Climate and Biodiversity Fund (ACBF) is an Australian nonprofit organization established in 2021 with a mission to advocate for the protection and restoration of Australia's native forests. It focuses on addressing critical environmental challenges posed by logging, land clearing, and forest degradation, which have significantly impacted Australia's biodiversity and climate resilience.

Background and Mission

Since European colonization, Australia has lost approximately 104 million hectares of native forests, with ongoing clearing and logging continuing to degrade forest ecosystems. The ACBF was founded to combat these threats by promoting the rapid protection and extensive restoration of native forests across the country. The organization emphasizes that improved forest management plays a crucial role in carbon storage, biodiversity conservation, and climate stabilization.

The Fund brings together a diverse coalition of leaders from the business and finance sectors, public institutions, academia, agriculture, philanthropy, and environmental movements. This collaborative approach seeks to shift Australian industry systems to support forest conservation at scale. The ACBF aims to achieve a triple win for Australia by fostering a more stable climate, protecting and restoring biodiversity, and creating new economic opportunities to support thriving communities.

Objectives and Strategic Focus

Key goals of the Australian Climate and Biodiversity Fund include:

• Securing a permanent cessation of native forest logging by 2025.
• Ending the clearing of remnant native vegetation by 2030.
• Promoting the establishment of carbon and biodiversity credit markets to generate sustainable funding for forest restoration and management.
• Supporting economic policies that deliver long-term forest restoration, transition to sustainable plantation forestry, and creation of jobs in forest management.
• Advocating for reforms in environmental policy frameworks, such as offset schemes, to improve their efficacy in protecting forests.

Governance and Leadership

The organization is governed by a board of directors comprising experts and leaders from diverse sectors. Dr. Ken Henry serves as the chair of the board, bringing significant experience in public policy and environmental advocacy. Other board members include prominent figures from finance and environmental sectors, ensuring a broad representation of expertise aligned with the Fund’s mission.

Impact and Activities

ACBF actively engages in public policy advocacy, submitting recommendations and participating in government inquiries related to nature protection and environmental legislation. It aims to influence laws and regulations to create a supportive environment for forest protection and sustainable land use.

By partnering with stakeholders across government, business, academia, agriculture, and civil society, the Fund strives to create systemic change. Its advocacy promotes new economic models that balance environmental stewardship with community and economic benefits.

The Australian Climate and Biodiversity Fund represents a focused, mission-driven effort to safeguard Australia's native forests at scale, addressing one of the country's most critical environmental challenges through collaboration, advocacy, and innovative policy solutions.

[1] https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=85412823-78de-48b1-9c55-4d74e8a329fb&subId=760437 [2] https://www.climatebiodiversity.org [3] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/d5462714-0862-ec11-8f8e-002248129588/profile [4] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/d5462714-0862-ec11-8f8e-002248129588/documents/0133ea3b-e30b-ee11-8f6e-002248935564 [5] https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/submissions/87657/0054%20Australian%20Climate%20and%20Biodiversity%20Foundation.pdf