The Little River Landcare Biodiversity Markets project has made significant progress since its launch in September 2025, following the announcement of the successful Landcare Australia Biodiversity in Action grant and the release of an Expression of Interest for local participants.
Promotion through newsletters, social media, community newspapers and word of mouth has generated strong engagement across the region, reflecting growing producer interest in practical natural capital opportunities.
This project supports farmers to:
- explore carbon farming opportunities,
- understand biodiversity co-benefits such as salinity management, improved pasture productivity and livestock shelter, and
- assess the financial viability of potential natural capital projects.
The first workshop, held on 13 November 2025 at “Catombal”, brought together more than 20 land managers to hear presentations on natural capital opportunities, alongside the risks and considerations associated with carbon sequestration projects.
Allan Nicholson, Principal Salinity Officer, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), outlined the 20-hectare site selected for a registered environmental planting project. His presentation examined soil type, hydrology and historical land use impacts, and highlighted potential biodiversity co-benefits including improved water quality, reduced erosion and restoration of grassy box woodland habitat.
Project facilitator Phoebe Gulliver emphasised the value of building producer capability:
“The most exciting part of this project is the learning process — supporting producers to map their own properties and determine whether a registered project is a viable business decision for their farm.”
She added:
“Farmers need simple processes and clear pathways. Understanding how to map their own farms and assess carbon sequestration potential is a practical first step.”
What’s next
Two further training workshops are scheduled for March 2026, alongside a planned ecological site survey. These next stages will deepen participants’ understanding of both environmental outcomes and commercial considerations, ensuring decisions are grounded in sound science and farm business realities.
