The project's executive officer, Ian Turney, said that restoring native forests was seen as the best way of locking up some greenhouse gases.
At the same time, it helped to replace lost biological diversity, stabilise riverbanks, reduce pollution, cool the air in cities and enhance landscapes.
Landcare Research is discussing making the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust a national partner in the exchange.
The trust helps landowners, such as farmers, who want to covenant and fence ecologically valuable sites to protect them from destruction by future landowners.
Other partners are also being recruited to supply land that has been legally protected in perpetuity, manage restored sites, supply seedlings, fencing, staff training or to help with energy audits and monitoring of carbon and biodiversity gains.
Sponsors are sought to help finance native tree planting and will receive audited reports of their carbon emissions.
The sponsors and partner organisations will also be able to use the system to contribute to greater local employment, training, and new technologies.
On Wednesday, the exchange's first greenhouse gas offset certificate will be presented to the Tourist Industry Association.
- NZPA
