Carbon Farming

Agriculture is responsible for 14% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock and agricultural soils the largest source of methane and nitrous oxide (DPIRD). 

What is Carbon Farming? Carbon Farming broadly refers to land management activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural practices or sequester carbon dioxide in the landscape. At Carbon Positive Australia we plant trees and revegetate with native plants to help sequester carbon. 

In Australia, carbon farming is an emerging industry that is making an important contribution to Australia's emission reduction task. In addition to carbon sequestration, carbon farming also delivers other important economic, environmental, and social benefits.

Carbon Farming Industry Roadmap, Carbon Market Institute

Why Carbon Farming?

Carbon farming activities have a critical role in contributing to Australia’s emissions reduction target.

The reasons for participating in carbon farming activities vary from landholder to landholder but often include: 

  • Landscape restoration
  • Soil fertility improvements
  • Income generation
  • Carbon neutrality goals

Alongside carbon sequestration there are many co-benefits to carbon farming, these can include combating soil erosion, reducing salinity,  improving water efficiency, and increasing biodiversity.

Carbon as part of the farm system

At Carbon Positive Australia we are keen to encourage carbon projects that can become part of the overall farm system. 

We want to ensure that landholders make the decision to carbon farm from a place of knowledge and that any revegetation and carbon planting supports farm income and sustainability.

Through our CarbonCare™ program, we have been listening to landholders, particularly farmers, to gain a greater understanding of their needs, and to ensure our carbon projects meet their expectations and objectives. 

carbon farming practices

Carbon farming practices are successful when carbon gains resulting from enhanced land management and/or conservation practices exceed carbon losses. 

Carbon farming practices can range from a single land management change, to whole of farm integrated practices. You may already be implementing some or many of these practices on your farm/land. 

At Carbon Positive Australia we work with landholders to understand their existing farm systems and are able to provide full service ecological restoration through tree planting and revegetation. 

Planting Trees

Reforestation and revegetation can sequester significant amounts of carbon per hectare. 

As well as sequestering carbon, planting trees can provide a host of social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits. These can include:

  • Providing income to landholders by planting agroforestry species such as sandalwood.
  • Generating jobs in regional and rural communities as part of the planting and monitoring process.
  • Improving air and water quality.
  • Improving soil conditions including salinity and erosion.
  • Increasing and conserving biodiversity.
  • Improving amenity and landscape value.
For landholders, the attractiveness of carbon farming activities can be increased by planting on land with a low opportunity cost (i.e. land that is of limited agricultural value). Carbon Positive Australia can assist with planning planting projects that combat salinity and utilise low grade soils.Â