LANDHOLDER SERIES -PROPERTY PLANNINGCarbon Farming in the Cradle Coast The basics The Carbon Farming Initiative is a voluntary Australian Government carbon offsets scheme. It aims to help farmers and land managers earn income from reducing emissions like nitrous oxide and methane, and sequestering carbon in vegetation and soils through changes to agricultural and land management practices. As such, land managers who participate in the initiative can generate carbon credits, which can then be sold to other individuals and businesses wishing to “offset” their own emissions. While only a handful of methodologies have been approved to date, the Initiative will likely include activities such as: •
reforestation
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reduced fertiliser emissions
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revegetation
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increased carbon storage in soils
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native forest protection
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biochar application
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avoided de-vegetation
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rangeland restoration
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managed regrowth
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savannah fire management
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reduced methane emissions from livestock
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reduced emissions from burning stubble and crop residue
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livestock manure management
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reduced emissions from legacy landfill waste
This list provides examples of the types of activities possible under the Carbon Farming Initiative. However, there are a number of requirements a project must meet before it can be carried out.
Image: A Ryder
Image: H Saddler