A Future Where Nature Leads the Design
Welcome to 1 Million Turtles
Welcome to Nature Positive Restoration Studios—the creative engine behind large-scale and urban ecological transformations. Powered by the 1 Million Turtles initiative, we bring science, community, and innovation together to reimagine landscapes for wildlife, water, and people. From regional wetland corridors to stormwater drains behind schools, our team co-designs solutions that regenerate biodiversity and spark community pride.
We don’t just restore environments—we create living blueprints for a more resilient planet. Whether it’s turning golf course water hazards into habitat-rich wetlands, installing floating Biohaven islands in city parks, or reconnecting endangered species with lost nesting grounds, every project is a story of regeneration—and everyone’s invited to be part of it.
Who is it for?
Nature Positive Restoration Studios is built for anyone ready to turn vision into action:
- Councils & Local Government
Restore degraded waterways, parks, or stormwater systems while meeting biodiversity, climate, and community engagement goals.
- Developers & Planners
Design nature-positive features into new and existing developments to generate biodiversity and carbon credits under emerging environmental markets.
- Golf Courses & Sporting Grounds
Reimagine water features and green space as living habitat corridors—without impacting play.
- Schools & Community Groups
Use real-time visual tools to co-design restoration projects, track success, and inspire the next generation of conservation leaders.
- Farmers & Private Landholders
Create habitat that works with your land, adds ecological value, and opens the door to environmental markets like the Nature Repair Market.
- Researchers & Conservation NGOs
Visualise restoration scenarios, engage stakeholders, and develop scalable habitat models grounded in citizen science and species recovery data.
What we provide
Nature Positive Restoration Studios offers an integrated suite of tools and services to turn your conservation vision into reality:
- Real-Time Habitat Visualisations
AI-generated images that show how your site could look in 6, 12, and 24 months—based on your goals, land type, and species needs.
- Customised Ecological Management Plans
Step-by-step, science-backed plans tailored to your landscape, including planting schedules, habitat features, and monitoring strategies.
- Species Recovery Integration Every design supports target species—especially turtles—and can be scaled for broader biodiversity outcomes.
- Carbon & Biodiversity Credit Pathways Align your project with the Nature Repair Market and other credit systems to generate environmental and financial returns.
- Interactive Planning Studio A co-design tool for councils, landholders, schools, and developers to build restoration plans collaboratively.
- Implementation Support & Partnerships Connect with our network of ecologists, engineers, educators, and citizen scientists to help make your restoration happen on the ground.
Case Studies
Oatlands Golf Club – Hole 9 Wetland Restoration
At Hole 9 of Oatlands Golf Club—a short par 3 in Western Sydney—a modest water hazard will be transformed into a high-impact biodiversity feature. Triggered by TurtleSAT reports from golf members documenting turtle crossings and nest predation, the project was selected as a demonstration site for Nature Positive Restoration Studios.
Through real-time ecological visualisations, the design balanced playability with habitat functionality, delivering a 24-month restoration plan that included:
- Native riparian planting zones along the water’s edge that enhance ecosystem health without interfering with tee or green lines,
- A BioHaven floating island installed to support freshwater turtle basking, improve water quality, and attract native birdlife,
- Midstorey habitat buffers for frogs, pollinators, and invertebrates that also visually enrich the hole for players.
The result is a thriving wetland corridor that now supports local biodiversity while maintaining the integrity and aesthetics of the golf course. The site also functions as a community engagement hub—connecting club members, schools, and local councils—and is under consideration for biodiversity credit generation under the Nature Repair Market.
This project proves that golf courses can be more than green space—they can be critical green infrastructure for species recovery and nature-positive futures.
Case Study: Hawkesbury Wetland Restoration (Western Sydney University Campus)
At Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury campus, a shallow ephemeral paddock used for cattle grazing is being transformed into a permanent wetland and habitat refuge for native turtles and wetland species. This flagship project became a test site for Nature Positive Restoration Studios, helping to demonstrate how AI-powered design can shape viable restoration outcomes.
Using aerial imagery and student-submitted site parameters, the Studios generated real-time visualisations of ecological succession over 6, 12, and 24 months. These informed the wetland construction plan, planting design, and stakeholder engagement strategy.
Key features:
- Excavation to deepen the wetland and improve water retention,
- Exclusion fencing to prevent cattle damage,
- Installation of BioHaven floating islands for turtle basking and aquatic biodiversity,
- Native planting zones designed for pollinators, frogs, and waterbirds,
- A boardwalk for education, recreation, and community monitoring.
Now embedded as a teaching and research hub, the site is used to monitor ecological change, train students in restoration science, and model biodiversity uplift for potential inclusion in the Nature Repair Market.