Opportunity for farmers to diversify income with environmental plantings
Have you got land on your farm that has limited productive value? There is now an opportunity to plant trees in these areas and obtain an income for the revegetation work.
30 March 2021
Under the Australian Government’s new Carbon + Biodiversity Pilot program, landholders can apply to receive funding for revegetation of local native species in an area of 5 to 200 hectares.
The Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board region has been chosen as one of six pilot regions across Australia for the program which is part of the Agriculture Stewardship Package being delivered by the Department for Agriculture, Water and Environment.
The Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board is helping to facilitate the program at a local level for the Australian Government.
“This is an opportunity for Eyre Peninsula farmers to lead the way in diversifying income through environmental plantings, as one of only six regions across Australia involved in this pilot program,” says Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board Planning and Assessment Officer, Andrew Freeman.
“I would encourage local farmers to look at their property and think about areas that have limited productive value that could instead be revegetated under this program.
“This pilot will develop arrangements to reward farmers for increasing biodiversity and storing carbon.
“Plantings can also benefit farmers by protecting waterways, reducing erosion, and providing shelter for animals once the plants grow above grazing height.”
Plantings established under the Carbon + Biodiversity Pilot must be protected and maintained for a minimum of 25 years in accordance with Emissions Reduction Fund requirements.
This Carbon + Biodiversity Pilot program was initially announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Hon David Littleproud MP, earlier this month.
Project applications will open on 12 April and close on 11 June.
For more information, visit the Department for Agriculture, Water and Environment’s website at agriculture.gov.au/agriculturestewardship.
If you have further questions about the program, you can contact the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board’s Planning and Assessment Officer, Andrew Freeman on 0429 673 123 or see our factsheet about the program.
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