Carbon farming comes to Kangaroo Island
Expressions Of Interests are now open for a new Carbon Credit project as Carbon Farming comes to KI
Most of us have done some revegetation or helped an area regenerate. After all the planning, organising and hard work it is gratifying to see the plants grow and to enjoy the biodiversity, agricultural and amenity improvements they bring.
What if these activities could also earn you money for the next 25 years just by storing carbon as they grow?
Carbon farming can generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by following specific carbon farming “methodologies” that reduce emissions or store carbon.
The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) has identified Kangaroo Island as a primary location to launch the first biodiverse carbon farming pilot project because of its rainfall, soils, potential carbon yield and land availability.
Grant Flanagan, Kangaroo Island Biodiverse Carbon Pilot Project Liaison Officer says that the project will provide incentives to landowners to undertake planting and/or natural regeneration of native vegetation to provide a new, long-term income stream.
“Small-scale plantings or actively supporting natural regeneration can provide shelter for stock, reduce erosion and evaporation through breaking the wind, filter nutrients and sediments from water flowing into rivers and dams, and harbour beneficial pollinating and predatory insects as well as carbon,” Mr Flanagan said.
“These activities will be structured to provide agricultural and biodiversity benefits (known as co-benefits) as well as store carbon, ensuring that the plantings benefit primary production and do not compromise the use of prime agricultural land on the island.
“Using a mixture of local indigenous species will provide greater biodiversity benefits as well as improved connectivity, reduced fragmentation and restoring ecosystem functionality. These agricultural and biodiversity “co-benefits” may attract a premium price from some purchasers of carbon credits.
“These carbon credits can be sold or traded to investors which could provide an additional financial revenue flow to the land manager.”
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the Kangaroo Island Biodiverse Carbon Pilot Project are now open (see advert in this edition) and are available from the Natural Resources Centre, 37 Dauncey Street Kingscote, ph: (08) 8553 4444, email: grant.flangan@sa.gov.au
EOI forms and advice are available for download here
FAQs on the project can be viewed here
and more general information on the project can be found here
An information session on how to undertake a carbon farming project will be presented at 7pm (for a 7:30 pm start) on Tuesday, 13 November, 2018 at the Parndana Sports Club.
Closing date for Expressions of Interest COB Thursday 22 November, 2018
