Carbon

Forestry Australia has welcomed a new study published in Australian Forestry peer-reviewed journal by the former chief research scientist at the CSIRO, Dr John Raison. The paper, titled "A review of the impacts of sustainable harvesting, non-harvest management and wildfire on net carbon emissions from Australian native forests", investigates the science behind claims that timber harvesting increases greenhouse gas emissions.

Forestry Australia is calling on the Australian Government to ensure that new ACCU Scheme carbon methods developed for managing native forests are truly ‘nature positive’ ... “The proposed method, Enhancing Native Forest Resilience, is focussed on improving the health and resilience of native forests and encouraging active, adaptive management of native forests across all land tenures to assist Australia in meeting its Paris Agreement targets": Dr Bill Jackson.

With global and national regulations focusing more on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Professor Richard Eckard emphasised that carbon is no longer just an environmental concern – it’s becoming a critical business consideration for Australian farmers. BCG welcomed Professor Eckard, a leading expert from the University of Melbourne, as the keynote speaker at its annual Chair's Breakfast.

Matthew Harrison, uTas. A webinar was held relating to how planting trees on farm impacts on biodiversity and natural capital. A range of models were used to examine spatially-explicit carbon sequestration and changes in biodiversity over time.

GrainGrowers has made it easier for growers to understand greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the release of a report today that compares available carbon calculators. GrainGrowers’ General Manager Major Projects and Thought Leadership, Sarah Hyland, said the report was designed to improve carbon literacy among grain growers. 

Shaun Ossinger. The world biochar market is estimated to reach $5 billion dollars by next year more than 100 people were told at the recent South Coast Biochar Forum. Key speaker Professor Stephen Joseph told the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee forum that biochar had huge potential to sequester carbon, improve plant and animal health and manage a host of waste streams in the process.

Forestry Australia is leading an Australian initiative to expand Australia’s carbon credits across all native forest tenures, including State forests, private native forests, forests managed by Traditional Owners, national parks and conservation reserves. The Forestry Australia ‘Enhancing Native Forest Resilience’ proposal is a forest-sector-led submission to the Australian Government’s Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee EOI process for Australian Carbon Credits Units (ACCU) Scheme methods.

Land managers across the Murraylands and Riverland are invited to attend a free workshop to find how biochar can be used to improve soil health. The event will be held on-farm at Lameroo ... and include live demonstration of a biochar kiln, weather permitting. Operated by Maccy Biochar, the kiln will be used to burn organic, on-farm waste at a high temperature in a low oxygen environment.

The Sunshine Coast will soon be home to an Australia-first blue carbon project creating a thriving mangrove ecosystem, a healthier Maroochy River for everyone to enjoy and the potential for future income streams for landholders. The Australian Government’s Clean Energy Regulator has formally registered the nation’s first Blue Carbon project in the Sunshine Coast’s Blue Heart, on the lower Maroochy River floodplain, following a rigorous research and application process.

Last week, local farmers, investors and Western Murray Land Improvement Group (WMLIG) celebrated the next step in their Murray Inland Delta Landscape Impact Project. With the financial world falling over themselves to get a piece of the carbon trading arena, an ambitious project has been initiated to ensure that meaningful, tangible environmental benefits can be achieved while delivering financial benefits to landholders.

Patricia Gill. A biochar project of over three and a half years at the Shire Waste Transfer Station has the potential to develop a world-first industry for Denmark. Through a pyrolysis unit, which heats waste in low oxygen, green waste, silage wrap and food organics would potentially be converted into a carbon-rich product capable of improving soils and animal health.

At the Sustainable Agriculture Summit held in Toowoomba last Thursday, the Federal Government announced details of $63.8 million allocated in the 2024-25 Budget. The funding will go towards supporting the reduction of emissions in the agriculture industry and contribute to the whole-of-economy transition to net zero.

TASC Carbon Australia Pty Ltd is looking to collaborate with landowners to facilitate access to carbon project registration opportunities. TASC allows farmers to be the project proponent (if they choose) and pays for all project costs (depending on financial viability). Australian Rural & Regional News found out more from Marc Bezuidenhout from TASC.

Latrobe City Council has reaffirmed its strong support for the Japanese hydrogen HESC project, stressing the vital role it can play in the Latrobe Valley’s economic future, after a visit to the proponent’s industry hub in Japan. “The visit was successful in reinforcing the support from Latrobe City to be a hub for hydrogen manufacturing and the HESC project... "

It’s a resounding no from leaders across Western Queensland to proposed plans to inject industrial waste into the Great Artesian Basin … The 24 member councils of Western Queensland ... unanimously agree in their opposition to the proposal for foreign-owned mining giant Glencore to undertake an injection test of 330,000 tonnes of liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) over three years into the Great Artesian Basin (GAB).

With an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) decision for Glencore’s proposed carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) expected to be handed down in early May, community, environmental groups and industry remain united in calling on the Queensland government to reject the proposal.

The Queensland Farmers' Federation (QFF) will lead a delegation of industry and community leaders to see Queensland Premier the Hon Steven Miles ... with a clear message: reject the proposed carbon capture and storage (CCS) project planned for the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) and put in place regulations to stop future CCS proposals into water aquifers in the GAB.

“The net zero transition will deliver a fundamental change to the way regional economies operate. Our research has found there is a deep thirst for information specific to how a low-carbon future will play out in a regional context”: Regional Australia Institute CEO, Liz Ritchie.

One of the most topical but arguably most misunderstood developments in sustainable agriculture, carbon baseline setting will be a focus in two weeks at the largest cotton field-day to be staged in Southeast Queensland this year. The 2023 Bayer Cotton Growers of the year, Johannes and Scarlett Roellgen from Tyunga Farms … are hosting the Bayer Cotton Grower of the Year Field Day...