Carbon farming involves farming land so that it either reduces Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions or stores carbon in the landscape (carbon sequestration).
If these activities are carried out using the methods outlined by the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), a carbon farming project may earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). One ACCU is earned for each tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e) stored or avoided by a project.
ACCUs can be sold to the government through a carbon abatement contract. They can also be sold to companies that need to buy carbon credits to offset their carbon emissions.
If these activities are carried out using the methods outlined by the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), a carbon farming project may earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). One ACCU is earned for each tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e) stored or avoided by a project.
ACCUs can be sold to the government through a carbon abatement contract. They can also be sold to companies that need to buy carbon credits to offset their carbon emissions.
THE opportunitY for indigenous communities
Aboriginal businesses and landholders can participate in the carbon farming initiative by undertaking projects on the land they manage, either through pastoral leases or through native title management of country. Many communities are already reducing emissions through energy efficiency and regenerating land by savannah burning or livestock management. If this is the case, it may be possible to register these projects too.
The main benefit of participating in carbon farming is to create an additional revenue stream for the landholder that can add to the total community income. For many Aboriginal communities, this can mean the difference between their people staying on traditional land rather than being forced to move elsewhere for work.
As well as earning income from the sale of ACCUs, the projects deliver other important benefits, including:
· managing country
· revitalising connection to country
· improving corridors to take the pressure off wildlife
· employing new trainee rangers who are Traditional Owners
· sustaining and valuing culture through healthy country, and resilient, engaged communities
· the opportunity for inter-generational wealth to become a reality.
Existing land management activities account for approximately 20 per cent of the total Greenhouse Gas emissions produced in Australia. Getting involved in carbon farming will reduce these emissions and help Australia reach the target of zero net emissions by 2050.
The main benefit of participating in carbon farming is to create an additional revenue stream for the landholder that can add to the total community income. For many Aboriginal communities, this can mean the difference between their people staying on traditional land rather than being forced to move elsewhere for work.
As well as earning income from the sale of ACCUs, the projects deliver other important benefits, including:
· managing country
· revitalising connection to country
· improving corridors to take the pressure off wildlife
· employing new trainee rangers who are Traditional Owners
· sustaining and valuing culture through healthy country, and resilient, engaged communities
· the opportunity for inter-generational wealth to become a reality.
Existing land management activities account for approximately 20 per cent of the total Greenhouse Gas emissions produced in Australia. Getting involved in carbon farming will reduce these emissions and help Australia reach the target of zero net emissions by 2050.
WHAT ARE CO-BENEFITS?
Co-benefits are the direct positive environmental, social or economic outcomes associated with carbon farming projects. Payment for co-benefits in Queensland is one of the unique aspects of the Land Restoration Fund.
Examples of co-benefits include:
· Better water quality flowing into the Great Barrier Reef, further supporting the reef’s resilience and health. These co-benefits might be delivered by improving the health or ecological condition of wetlands and coastal ecosystems.
· Enhancing habitat re-growth for threatened species, both flora and fauna. These co-benefits might be delivered by increasing diverse native forest cover.
· New income streams and more jobs for Queenslanders, allowing them to stay in rural communities. These co-benefits may foster resilience in rural, regional and remote communities, such as supporting connection to country for First Nations peoples.
Examples of co-benefits include:
· Better water quality flowing into the Great Barrier Reef, further supporting the reef’s resilience and health. These co-benefits might be delivered by improving the health or ecological condition of wetlands and coastal ecosystems.
· Enhancing habitat re-growth for threatened species, both flora and fauna. These co-benefits might be delivered by increasing diverse native forest cover.
· New income streams and more jobs for Queenslanders, allowing them to stay in rural communities. These co-benefits may foster resilience in rural, regional and remote communities, such as supporting connection to country for First Nations peoples.
HOW ARE CO-BENEFITS MEASURED?
The Queensland Land Restoration Fund has established a robust standard that explains the design, monitoring and reporting criteria for co-benefits in Queensland, but it applies to any project across Australia.
The Co-benefits Standard (PDF, 429 KB ) is the reference document that the Fund will use to verify and certify co-benefits under three categories:
1. Environmental – improving biodiversity, habitat for threatened species, soils, wetlands, and water systems.
2. Social and Economic – improving the resilience and strength of regional communities by providing direct and indirect jobs and more investment into Queensland regions.
3. First Nations – providing on-country business opportunities as well as new service delivery businesses and supporting cultural connections.
Projects may deliver co-benefits from one, two, or all of the above categories. If you are applying for funding, you will need to show how your project aligns with the Co-benefits Standard, including a detailed description of the co-benefit(s) and how you will monitor, measure, verify and report them.
The Co-benefits Standard (PDF, 429 KB ) is the reference document that the Fund will use to verify and certify co-benefits under three categories:
1. Environmental – improving biodiversity, habitat for threatened species, soils, wetlands, and water systems.
2. Social and Economic – improving the resilience and strength of regional communities by providing direct and indirect jobs and more investment into Queensland regions.
3. First Nations – providing on-country business opportunities as well as new service delivery businesses and supporting cultural connections.
Projects may deliver co-benefits from one, two, or all of the above categories. If you are applying for funding, you will need to show how your project aligns with the Co-benefits Standard, including a detailed description of the co-benefit(s) and how you will monitor, measure, verify and report them.
what are first nations co-benefits?
The carbon industry and federal and state governments seek to ensure that the important co-benefits that carbon farming projects can support or provide for First Nations peoples are recognised and valued. These co-benefits encompass all aspects ranging from customary and cultural through to economic and business
development opportunities.
Under the Queensland Land Restoration Fund Co-benefits Standard, two types of scenarios are identified as eligible for claiming First Nations co-benefits:
Indigenous carbon based on location:
The carbon farming project takes place on Indigenous land, including:
· Aboriginal freehold
· land with a native title determination
· land that is subject to a registered native title claim
· land where there is an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) in place, including where there is a benefit assigned for the use of the land for a carbon farming project.
For example, where there is a project being run by a pastoral leaseholder on land subject to a native title interest and under the ILUA, the traditional owners receive a benefit or share of the ACCUs generated.
Indigenous carbon based on participation:
These are projects where the project owners are First Nations peoples, or the project directly involves First Nations participation, such as through the provision of fire management services or where Indigenous Rangers are the managers of the project.
development opportunities.
Under the Queensland Land Restoration Fund Co-benefits Standard, two types of scenarios are identified as eligible for claiming First Nations co-benefits:
Indigenous carbon based on location:
The carbon farming project takes place on Indigenous land, including:
· Aboriginal freehold
· land with a native title determination
· land that is subject to a registered native title claim
· land where there is an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) in place, including where there is a benefit assigned for the use of the land for a carbon farming project.
For example, where there is a project being run by a pastoral leaseholder on land subject to a native title interest and under the ILUA, the traditional owners receive a benefit or share of the ACCUs generated.
Indigenous carbon based on participation:
These are projects where the project owners are First Nations peoples, or the project directly involves First Nations participation, such as through the provision of fire management services or where Indigenous Rangers are the managers of the project.
the value of indigenous carbon credits
In the current carbon market, ACCU with co-benefits are highly sought after and attract a premium price. This is particularly true of ACCU from Indigenous projects because they not only protect the environment but also create jobs, income, and opportunities for Indigenous people to work and live on country.
Indigenous carbon credits are often generated through savannah burning, a traditional practice that stems back thousands of years. These skills are passed on from one generation to the next enabling country to be managed in an appropriate and careful way. Sacred sites are protected as fires are guided to avoid them, and cultural heritage is preserved through the land care work and its impact on the community.
As income is generated, it feeds into the community through the project proponents, usually the local Indigenous land council. This leads to improved living conditions for the whole community and offers the opportunity for more people to stay on country.
Indigenous carbon credits are often generated through savannah burning, a traditional practice that stems back thousands of years. These skills are passed on from one generation to the next enabling country to be managed in an appropriate and careful way. Sacred sites are protected as fires are guided to avoid them, and cultural heritage is preserved through the land care work and its impact on the community.
As income is generated, it feeds into the community through the project proponents, usually the local Indigenous land council. This leads to improved living conditions for the whole community and offers the opportunity for more people to stay on country.
