In this short video, Dr Jeremy Simmonds (NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, UQ) provides an overview of a project examining how tools like biodiversity offsetting can be made more ‘fit-for-purpose’ in northern Australia. Proposals to develop the north must be carefully planned, not least because of the region’s magnificent cultural heritage and natural values. Simply ‘copy/pasting’ approaches from southern Australia is not appropriate, and this project details how development can be better assessed and managed in this special part of Australia.