Posted on January 20, 2012 08:39
The Action on the land initiative under the Clean Energy Future Plan will see economic and environmental benefits go hand in hand. The plan will provide opportunities for regional farmers and landholders to work with researches and carbon traders to lower carbon emissions in the agriculture and land sector while reaping better economic and environmental outcomes.
There are seven specific land sector measures that create opportunities for regional carbon markets:
1. The Carbon Farming Initiative provides opportunities for farmers to generate additional income by selling non-Kyoto-compatible carbon credits in carbon markets while contributing to reduce land sector carbon emissions. Activities that generate carbon credits include reforestation and revegetation, savanna fire management and manure management.
2. The Biodiversity Fund encourages landholders to undertake projects that enhance biodiversity, carbon storage and increase resilience across the Australian landscape. The Biodiversity Fund supports projects including biodiverse planting and restoration and revegetation of high conservation areas such as wildlife corridors, rivers, streams and wetlands.
3. The Carbon Farming Futures program facilitates research on innovative ways and methods for storing carbon and reducing pollution in the land sector. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is responsible for delivering three components of the Carbon Farming Futures program:
- Filling the Research Gap
- Action on the Ground
- Extension and Outreach
4. The Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund will help regional communities plan for the impacts of climate change and maximise the benefits from carbon farming projects.
5. The Carbon Farming Skills Initiative provides for training and accreditation of carbon brokers and aggregators.
6. The Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund encourages Indigenous Australians to be involved in projects under the CFI.
7. The Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board provides a range of measures to increase the land sector’s resilience to climate change and improve long-term productivity.
Sources:
www.daff.gov.au/climatechange/carbonfarmingfutures www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/publications/pubs/biodiversity-fund-guidelines.pdf www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/clean-energy-future/securing-a-clean-energy-future/#content010