Our Stories
Supporting Australian Farmers to Improve Biodiversity
Here, our inaugural recipients reflect on their progress so far and share what they hope to achieve in the future.
Farmers are at the heart of Australia's economy, supplying the food and fibres we rely on every day while facing the growing challenges of climate change. Recognising the potential of agricultural land to support wildlife and the people who work on it, Landcare Australia is helping farmers understand how to improve biodiversity on their properties.
Since 2011, the Australian Government has rewarded farmers for reducing or storing carbon through the Australian Carbon Credit Unit scheme (ACCU). While the scheme is growing in popularity, barriers to its uptake remain. With the help of a $200,000 Country Road Climate Fund grant, Landcare Australia has created a free online toolkit to support eligible farmers* in understanding their opportunities to participate in the 'green economy'.
“The government's carbon credit scheme provides benefits to the environment, landholders and the community. One way for eligible farmers to participate is by planting native vegetation to sequester carbon. Large-scale plantings can reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide, a primary cause of global warming and climate change, and restore biodiversity while limiting erosion and improving farm health,” Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish explains.
There are other reasons that farmers and landholders in Australia might want to undertake environmental plantings as part of the scheme. Paddocks for grazing are improved by having increased native vegetation nearby, leading to benefits in on-farm productivity. The plantings provide shade and shelter for livestock as well as habitat for native wildlife, further improving biodiversity.
Reducing emissions through plantings also helps farmers to comply with regulatory requirements. Dr Norrish says many brands that purchase produce from growers—including wool and cotton—are increasingly requiring that farmers meet climate and sustainability targets. Undertaking an environmental plantings project may assist farmers in meeting these requirements.
Additionally, for many eligible farmers, carbon farming can be considered as a way to diversify revenue; selling carbon credits can provide a valuable second income stream, supplementing their primary agricultural income.
He explains that embarking on an environmental plantings project under the government's carbon credit scheme is a significant commitment, as the plantings must be maintained for a minimum of 25 years.
“For primary producers already juggling the everyday challenges and demands of complex agricultural businesses, many will look to a trusted source for guidance before branching into the carbon market. Landcare Australia has worked at the intersection of the agricultural and environmental sectors since its inception in 1989 and is well placed to support landholders in this market.”
Drawing on insights from landholder workshops run as part of the Country Road Climate Fund project, Landcare Australia began developing the Environmental Plantings Toolkit, an online guide created specifically for cotton and wool producers.
“The toolkit is an important resource to cut through the noise for landholders and provide a straightforward, step-by-step practical guide on carbon markets and environmental planting projects.” Consisting of a series of six modules, the toolkit provides an overview of the carbon credit scheme, details on eligibility criteria for participation, a detailed look at the lifecycle of an environmental plantings project and more crucial information for landholders considering entering the carbon market.
The Country Road Climate Fund provided critical resources for Landcare Australia to develop the toolkit. We look forward to growers utilising this resource and undertaking on-ground projects in the future.
*Carbon credits and their derivatives are financial products. Landcare Australia is CAR 1315198 of Australian Carbon Traders Pty Ltd AFSL 425512 and is authorised to provide financial services to wholesale clients.
We fund grassroots projects that mitigate climate change and build climate resilience across four key pillars.
