Your Footprint. Australia’s Trees. Our Future.

Landowner frequently asked questions

With almost 20 years of experience and having worked with over 100 landholders across 5,000 hectares, we are expert in revegetation, reforestation carbon offsets and environmental plantings.

Carbon Positive Australia supports landholders to develop ecologically sensitive large-scale biodiverse environmental plantings. We work with landholders to ensure that the planting not only sequesters carbon but that it brings measurable other long term benefits. We specialise in providing ecological restoration, planting biodiverse Australian Sandalwood and planting on land that is salt impacted.

What kind of land is suitable?

Generally our planting sites will be:

Over 20 hectares (this can be total over adjoining properties if several landholders would like to participate)
Biodiverse restoration projects working with the native environment (we do not plant monocultures)
Land that has been cleared prior to 1990
Areas with 200mm+ rainfall
Undertaken with a Carbon Covenant in place protecting the trees for 25+ years

Aerial view of an open paddock with ripped planting lines

What are the benefits as a landowner?

Allowing Carbon Positive to plant on your land has many benefits, including:

Carbon Positive Australia pays for all costs of the planting, including site preparation, seedlings, planting, monitoring and infill planting where necessary.
The values of trees on rural land can include:
- Reduction of salinity and water logging
- Reduction of erosion
- Habitat restoration for flora and fauna
We have developed a model in areas suitable to Australian Sandalwood whereby we plant a 25% to 75% mix:
- The landowner can eventually harvest the 25% sandalwood planting
- The remaining 75% is kept for ecological restoration and carbon capture
The grazing of sheep is allowed after 3 years
- The mature trees provide shade and shelter for stock
In some circumstances, Carbon Positive Australia will pay landowners incentives to assist them to plant.

What Role Does Each Party Play in the Partnership?

Carbon Positive Australia will:

Select suitable species
Acquire the seeds and seedlings
Prepare the site
Recruit expert planting contractors
Administer the carbon covenant *(see below)
Fund the whole cost of site preparation and planting

The Landholder will:

Maintain fences and firebreaks
Take all reasonable steps to manage pests which may damage trees
Not to harm the trees, or allow other people to harm the trees
Contact Carbon Positive Australia if there is a threat to the trees
Allow our site managers reasonable access
Take adequate fire risk precautions in compliance with local fire management bylaws and guidelines.

Landholders

How much land do I need for a planting project?

Generally, we prefer our planting sites to be at least 20 hectares, however, this can be the total area over adjoining properties if neighbouring landholders would like to participate. If you’re interested in having a planting planting project on your land, get in touch!

What type of land is suitable?

We work on different land types across Australia and tailor our planting mix to suit the native environment. In general, we prefer to work on land that has been cleared prior to 1990 with rainfall of 200mm+ per year.

What are the benefits of planting trees on my land?

The value of trees on rural land cannot be understated. Major benefits include:
• Reducing and mitigating salinity and water logging
• Reducing and mitigating erosion
• Providing a natural wind break to protect crops and livestock
• Restoring habitat for native flora and fauna
• Providing shade and shelter for livestock
• Increasing the ecological and financial value of the land

Do I have to pay for the trees to be planted on my land?

No. Carbon Positive Australia pays for all planting costs including site preparation, seedlings, planting, monitoring, and infill planting where necessary.

Will I earn income from having a project on my land?

To plant trees, we use funds donated by individuals and groups. This funding covers the planting and monitoring costs for your site. In some instances, we are able to offer incentives to landholders to plant with us, but this depends on a range of factors. Click here for more information.

What are my responsibilities as a landholder?

As a landholder you are responsible for the following:
• Maintaining fences and firebreaks;
• Taking all reasonable steps to manage pests which may damage trees;
• Not harming the trees, or allowing other to harm the trees;
• Contacting Carbon Positive Australia if there is a threat to the trees;
• Allowing our site managers reasonable access;
• Taking adequate fire risk precautions in compliance with local fire management bylaws and guidelines; and
• signing a Landholder Agreement signifying your commitment to protect the trees (minimum 25 years).

What happens after the trees have been planted?

Once all obligations are fulfilled by both parties, nature can take its course. We will need to access the site to monitor growth over the first 6 years. If the survival rate is low during this period, we will assess whether to restock the area. Site management after the planting will be documented in the Landholder Agreement.

What is a carbon right and a carbon covenant?

A Landowner Agreement will need to be signed to allow us to register a Carbon Right and a Carbon Covenant over the planted area(s). The Carbon Right and Carbon Covenant affect only the land which has been planted and is defined in a surveyed Deposited Plan with GPS coordinates.

The Carbon Right assigns all carbon sequestered to Carbon Positive Australia, which means that the landowner cannot sell carbon credits from the site. The Carbon Right is an encumbrance registered on the land title which does not remove the landholder’s ownership of the land or the trees or affect any other benefits and products from the trees.

The Carbon Covenant protects the planted area, ensuring “permanence” of the project. The length of the Covenant is nominated upon commencement of the project and is either 25 of 100 years.

If there is a mortgage on the land, then the financial institution will need to consent to the registration of the Carbon Right and Carbon Covenant. The Carbon Right and the Carbon Covenant remain over the site regardless of change in ownership of the land.

A landowner might be liable for damages to Carbon Positive Australia if they breach their obligations. Carbon Positive Australia’s main concern is to ensure that trees are not intentionally damaged or removed.

Can I sell my property if it has a planting project?

Absolutely. However, the Carbon Right is an encumbrance registered on the land title which, along with the Carbon Covenant, remain over the planting site regardless of change in ownership.

Can livestock be grazed on the planting area?

After three years, sheep are allowed back to the area for light grazing provided there is no damage to the trees/shrubs.

How is fire risk handled?

It is the responsibility of the landholder to take adequate precautions regarding fire risk in compliance with local fire management bylaws and guidelines. The landholder is not liable for loss or damage to trees caused by accidental fire. Where loss due to fire is caused by, or contributed to, by any act or omission by the landholder, then the loss should be covered by the landholder’s public liability insurance.

What happens if Carbon Positive Australia goes into administration or is wound up?

Carbon Positive Australia would seek to transfer its assets and all Carbon Rights and Carbon Covenants to another not-for-profit institution in Australia which has similar environmental objectives.