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Introduction

The Landcare CarbonSMART Environmental Plantings Toolkit for landholders is designed for eligible Australian farmers and landholders interested in finding out more about carbon farming through environmental plantings projects.

The primary goal of the toolkit is to provide eligible farmers and landholders with easy to understand, practical guidance on participating in the nature-positive carbon market through planning, establishing, and managing environmental plantings projects.

What is in the toolkit?

The Toolkit is broken into six modules, allowing you to find the information you need, including:

  • An overview of environmental markets, outlining benefits and risks
  • A summary of the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings method 2024 methodology
  • Detailed information on the process to plan and implement activities under the method
  • Information on understanding your farm’s carbon footprint and some of the tools available to help you navigate environmental markets
  • An outline of the key stages in a typical project lifecycle
  • General information on financial considerations, including funding options and ownership structures

The development of this Toolkit was supported by funding through the Country Road Climate Fund.

Disclaimer

This general information has been prepared by Landcare Australia (AR 1315198 of Australian Carbon Traders Pty Ltd AFSL 425512) for farmers and landholders who are eligible to be treated as wholesale clients. It does not take into account your objectives, needs or situation. ACCUs and derivatives are financial products. While we have outlined common benefits, risks and constraints here, we strongly recommend you seek independent financial and legal advice before acting on any decision to invest. Click here for further regulatory information.

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Explore the toolkit

Aerial image of sunrise over river with views out over the land encompassing paddocks and bush.

Introduction to environmental markets

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A view of a farm paddock with many newly planted native tree seedlings

Environmental plantings methodology

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Image of two people planting tree seedlings in a farm paddock.

Setting up your project

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Image of a farmer and mother with her two small children, standing in a holding pen with sheep in the background.

On-farm carbon accounting

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Image of Australian bush with mature Eucalypt trees in foreground.

Project lifecycle

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Financial considerations

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Further reading...

  1. Carbon farming. NSW Climate and Energy Action https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/business-and-industry/programs-grants-and-schemes/primary-industries-carbon-farming (2023).
  2. Newness, regulatory additionality and government program requirements | Clean Energy Regulator. https://cer.gov.au/schemes/australian-carbon-credit-unit-scheme/how-to-participate/apply-to-participate/newness-regulatory-additionality-and-government-program-requirements.
  3. Methods for the Nature Repair Market – DCCEEW. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/environmental-markets/nature-repair-market/methods-for-the-nature-repair-market.
  4. Department of Energy, E. and C. A. Trees for farm health – Agriculture. Agriculture Victoria https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/climate-and-weather/understanding-carbon-and-emissions/trees-for-farm-health (2024).
  5. ACCU Market Monthly Report – September 2024 | Insights | CORE Markets. https://coremarkets.co/insights/accu-market-monthly-report-september-2024.
  6. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Planning a Reforestation Project. (2024).
  7. Draft Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings method 2024 – Climate. https://consult.dcceew.gov.au/draft-accu-environmental-plantings-method-2024.
  8. Choose a project proponent | Clean Energy Regulator. https://cer.gov.au/schemes/australian-carbon-credit-unit-scheme/how-to-participate/plan-your-project/choose-project-proponent.
  9. ASIC. AFS licensing and the Carbon Farming Initiative: A fact sheet for advisers and project developers. https://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/financial-services/carbon-markets/afs-licensing-and-the-carbon-farming-initiative-a-fact-sheet-for-advisers-and-project-developers/.
  10. ASIC. AFS licensing and the Carbon Farming Initiative: A fact sheet for farmers and land managers. https://asic.gov.au/regulatory-resources/financial-services/carbon-markets/afs-licensing-and-the-carbon-farming-initiative-a-fact-sheet-for-farmers-and-land-managers/.
  11. Code of Conduct. Carbon Market Institute https://carbonmarketinstitute.org/code/.
  12. Department of Energy, E. and C. A. Selling carbon from trees and soils – Agriculture. Agriculture Victoria https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/climate-and-weather/understanding-carbon-and-emissions/selling-carbon-from-trees-and-soils (2021).
  13. Carbon Opportunity Decision Support Tool (CODST). http://carbontool.farminstitute.org.au/.
  14. ANU Sustainable FarmsDigital. Protect and restore paddock trees. https://www.sustainablefarms.org.au/on-the-farm/paddock-trees/.
  15. Trees on Farms: Connecting landowners with investors to grow timber, carbon or biodiversity | A platform for landowners in Victoria to identify the potential biodiversity, carbon and timber benefits from growing trees on their land, and to connect with organisations with funds to invest in these trees. https://growcarbon.science.unimelb.edu.au/.
  16. Nuberg, I. K. Effect of shelter on temperate crops: a review to define research for Australian conditions. Agrofor. Syst. 41, 3–34 (1998).
  17. Trees for Shelter – a guide to using windbreaks on Australian farms (chapter 1). AgriFutures Australia https://agrifutures.com.au/product/trees-for-shelter-a-guide-to-using-windbreaks-on-australian-farms/.
  18. 3. Establishing an ACCU Scheme project – DCCEEW. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/emissions-reduction/agricultural-land-sectors/carbon-farming-outreach-program/training-package/topic-5/3-establishing-accu-scheme-project#dcceew-main.
  19. Example Contract Clauses. Carbon Market Institute https://carbonmarketinstitute.org/example-contract-clauses/.
  20. On-farm greenhouse gas accounting tools | Understanding carbon and emissions | Climate and weather | Agriculture Victoria. https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/climate-and-weather/understanding-carbon-and-emissions/onfarm-greenhouse-gas-accounting-tools.
  21. Department of Energy, E. and C. A. Making cent$ of carbon and emissions on-farm – Agriculture. Agriculture Victoria https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/climate-and-weather/understanding-carbon-and-emissions/making-cents-of-carbon-and-emissions-on-farm (2020).
  22. Ruminati | Agricultural Emissions Tracking. Ruminati https://ruminati.com.au/undefined.
  23. Ruminati | Ruminati PRIME. Ruminati https://ruminati.com.au/undefined.
  24. Natural Capital Accounting Benchmarking Project. Landcare Australia https://landcareaustralia.org.au/naturalcapital/.
  25. Method catalogue. Accounting for Nature https://www.accountingfornature.org/method-catalogue.
  26. Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) – DCCEEW. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/full-carbon-accounting-model-fullcam.
  27. Carbon Sequestration. https://looc-c.farm/introduction.
  28. CER. Participating in the Emissions Reduction Fund. A guide to the reforestation by environmental or Mallee plantings FullCAM method.
  29. Forward abatement estimates | Clean Energy Regulator. https://cer.gov.au/schemes/australian-carbon-credit-unit-scheme/how-to-participate/apply-to-participate/forward-abatement-estimates.
  30. Eligible interest-holder consent | Clean Energy Regulator. https://cer.gov.au/schemes/australian-carbon-credit-unit-scheme/how-to-participate/apply-to-participate/eligible-interest-holder-consent.
  31. Permanence obligations | Clean Energy Regulator. https://cer.gov.au/schemes/australian-carbon-credit-unit-scheme/how-to-participate/permanence-obligations.
  32. Many markets in one: Valuing risk, opportunity and co-benefits in the ACCU market | Insights | CORE Markets. https://coremarkets.co/insights/valuing-cobenefits-in-the-accu-market.
  33. Chrissy Elmer. Accounting for Nature and Landcare Farming Native Vegetation Methof. (2022).
  34. Kilter Rural & Natural Decisions. A Native Woodland Bird Assessment Methodology for diverse regenerating farmlands. (2024).

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