We have the chance to have a disproportionate impact on nature

Lutruwita/Tasmania separated from mainland Australia around 12,000 years ago, yet evidence of Aboriginal settlement dates back an incredible 35,000 years.

This rich history is mirrored in the towering banksia (Banksia marginata) trees that survive at The Quoin. These ancient giants are so old and broad that your arms can’t reach around their massive trunks.

While The Quoin’s past may stretch far beyond our lifetimes, the way we manage the land today will shape its future. If these magnificent banksia trees were lost, it would take generations—well beyond our lifetime—to restore them, if at all.

The oldest recorded human lifespan is 122 years, which pales in comparison to the centuries that trees can stand. There’s something both humbling and profound about the fact that we, with our relatively short lifespans, can have such an immense and lasting impact on the landscapes around us. Whether we destroy, conserve, or enhance these ecosystems, our actions leave a lasting legacy—in the soil, the trees, and the air future generations will breathe.

At The Quoin, we recognise that our influence on these ecosystems will outlive us, which is why we see ourselves as temporary custodians of the land. Our responsibility is not only to care for it now but to ensure it thrives for those who come after us.

Our mission is to reimagine how ecosystem regeneration is financed, implemented, and protected over the long term. By sharing our learnings and strategies, we hope these efforts can be replicated, adapted, and reinvented by others.

Rethinking conservation: beyond public lands

When you think of conservation, national parks and public reserves likely come to mind—areas set aside for their pristine natural value, largely untouched by activities like logging and grazing.

When prompted to imagine conservation, it’s less likely you imagine private properties. 

Associating conservation solely with public lands and viewing private land as synonymous with modified ecosystems is an oversimplification. The reality is far more nuanced. 

For generations, many private landowners have worked closely with the land, tending to its needs and promoting biodiversity. Yet, despite the critical role they play, many of the landowners we’ve spoken with say their conservation efforts go largely unrecognised and unrewarded. This is a common issue across the globe. Studies show that private landowners often face significant financial barriers, as incentives for conservation tend to favour public lands and large-scale programs. In many cases, government subsidies and business models still prioritise agricultural productivity over environmental sustainability 

The nature-positive revolution

A new era in land management is upon us.

Private properties are increasingly placing regeneration at the core of their business models, driven by an emerging business case for conservation. Innovative natural capital products and policies are now paving the way for private conservation efforts to become financially sustainable—a shift that’s as critical as it is overdue.

Consider this: only 14.9% of Australia’s land is publicly managed, such as national parks and reserves, while a staggering 54.5% is privately managed or under pastoral lease. This means that more than half of Australia’s landscapes are in the hands of private landholders. With the emergence of new market-based mechanisms—such as carbon credits, biodiversity credits, and innovative financial tools—there is growing potential for private landowners to play a leading role in restoring critical ecosystems. These initiatives hold the promise of creating new revenue streams while aligning ecological sustainability with economic viability. As these mechanisms develop, private landowners could be uniquely positioned to drive large-scale environmental regeneration across the country, helping biodiversity thrive beyond the borders of national parks.

The Quoin: experimenting for a regenerative future

As these products and policies emerge, The Quoin is here to explore their potential, all while experimenting with innovative ideas and approaches.

We are committed to de-risking, validating, and refining new regenerative models. By integrating conservation and restoration with sustainable commercial activities, we aim to demonstrate what’s possible.

At The Quoin, we believe that nature, business, and people can thrive together in harmony.

As a private property, The Quoin is positioned to enable this exploration—our ability to move swiftly and experiment gives us the opportunity to try new ideas.

And we need to move fast — because we’re collectively working to a deadline. 

We have until 2030 to shift our global economies from nature-negative to nature-positive, or we’ll push our planetary boundaries beyond reversible limits, and face the costs. 

As 2030 approaches, we hope The Quoin will serve as an example for landowners, demonstrating what’s possible in regenerative land management.

Success to us is healthy landscapes and communities alongside financial sustainability.

It's a thriving future for all species.