Australia’s first environmental planting projects have been registered under the federal government’s Carbon Farming Initiative, which rewards landholders for cutting or avoiding carbon pollution on the land.
Victorian farmers, Peter and Christine Forster, have been direct seeding marginal land on their 800-hectare property with local native species such as Red Gum and Black Wattle since 2010.
As a result they are now sequestering approximately 4.5 tonnes of carbon emissions per hectare per year.
The Australian Labor government’s Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, visited the Forster’s Bullock Hills property, south of Ararat in Victoria’s Western District.
“The Bullock Hills Direct Seeding Project is an excellent example of how Australian farmers can improve their land and local environment while contributing to Australia’s reduction of harmful carbon pollution,” Mr Dreyfus said.
“Droughts, storms and fires are all intensified by the effects of climate change and are potentially very damaging to Australia’s agricultural sector, which is why the Labor government is taking practical steps to cut heat-trapping carbon pollution.
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Carbon farming projects, such as this, strengthen the land and generate carbon credits which provide extra income for farmers who can sell them to heavy polluting businesses that need to offset their carbon emissions.”
The Bullock Hills project uses the Environmental Plantings of Native Species Methodology, one of seven approved methodologies under the Carbon Farming Initiative.
The carbon sequestered is calculated using the Reforestation Modelling Tool.
“The plantings, which cover 32ha of our farm, are reducing soil erosion and dry-land salinity, and improving the health of the Hopkins River,” Christine Forster said.
“The trees create biodiversity benefits and will provide much needed shade and shelter for livestock.
“We have been planting trees for 30 years for multiple farming, environmental and biodiversity benefits.
“About 25 per cent of the farm is revegetated with local native tree species.”
“We are in the midst of an extremely hot summer, a stark reminder to all Australians that responsible action to tackle climate change cannot be dismissed or avoided,” Mr Dreyfus said.
Further information on the CFI is available on the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website http://www.climatechange.gov.au/
