Maintaining a sustainable and profitable agriculture sector is essential to the longevity and prosperity of Queensland farmers and the environment into the future. To support this aim, the state government this week announced the opening of the second round of funding under the Land Restoration Fund in a positive step towards ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes. The second round will see a further $25 million invested in carbon farming projects, with up to $5 million funding available per project.
The LRF aims to expand carbon farming in the state by supporting land-sector projects that deliver additional environmental, socio-economic and First Nations co-benefits. The opportunity will enable land management activities aimed at storing carbon in trees and soils, or avoiding the release of carbon through better management of fire, livestock, and fertiliser use. In addition, it will empower farmers, land managers and landholders with the support needed to generate additional, regular and diverse income streams, and reduce risk for their businesses.
To help farmers, land managers and land holders assess whether carbon farming is suitable for their land and business, rebates are available to cover the costs of professional advice from agronomists, environmental consultants, business advisers, valuers, accountants and lawyers. In addition, the LRF has partnered with the Queensland Farmers’ Federation and NRM Regions Queensland to run four face-to-face workshops and one webinar in August in September. The workshops will feature specialists from government, industry and the carbon farming sector who will explain the application process and answer questions to assist landholders understand eligibility and other requirements for the second round of funding. We encourage interested landholders to attend and determine a path towards realising mutually beneficial and environmentally resilient outcomes.
The LRF will create opportunities for farmers across Queensland to contribute to a range of positive environmental outcomes including improving biodiversity and their on-farm adaptation. However, Queensland farmers are limited by the small number of suitable emissions reductions methodologies which ensure the emission reductions are real and in addition to business-as-usual operations. With the development of new methodologies Queensland farmers can continue to be part of the solution when it comes to improving environment and economic outcomes in Queensland.
