Farm Sector May Get a Spot on Carbon Taskforce

27th November 2006 

The National Carbon Forum held recently in Canberra has finally stirred up some political interest with a push to include a representative from the farm sector onto the newly announced 'Carbon Taskforce' - see details... Windsor Nov07 05/12/2006,12:35 56.90 Kb

 $1m paid for farmland vegetation sold for carbon credits

By MARK PHELPS - Australia
Thursday, 16 November 2006

Increasing demand from industry is paving the way for the development of a major market in selling farming vegetation for carbon credits.

A deal approved on Tuesday will see development rights of undeveloped south-west Queensland farmland sold off as carbon credits to major industries.

For one landholder, this will result in a payment of close to $1 million.

To date, three landholders who have been engaged in negotiations for the past four months will soon sign over the management of selected areas of vegetation on their freehold land for a 121 year period.

In return, they have received payments of between two and three times the value of land in its undeveloped state.

The deal was brokered by Mark Jackson from the Lismore, NSW, based company Carbon Pool, and facilitated by Dominic Devine, from Devine Agribusiness, Charleville.
It was approved by the Commonwealth Government's Australian Greenhouse Office.

The agreement is structured as a 'profit a prende', a proprietary right to take the produce or part of the soil from the land of another person, in this case carbon in trees that would otherwise be destroyed, in effect a carbon right.

The conditions of the agreements vary. Landholders can sell the rights to clear poplar box vegetation but still be able to fodder harvest the mulga trees located in the same area.

"This is an indication the payment works out roughly as a bit less than the improved value of the country," Mr Jackson said.

"In effect, the agreement is in perpetuity to protect the trees which store the carbon.

"Industry - in this case the mines and energy sector - is buying these credits to offset its own carbon emissions.

"This is not about locking up land, it is about locking up carbon and landholders being paid for it."

Under the arrangement with the Australian Greenhouse Office, the Carbon Pool company sells 80 percent of the credits to industry and retains 20pc as a buffer against the loss or damage of the vegetation storing the carbon.

It is seen as a big win for Queensland landholders, who will lose the right to develop their land after December 31 this year under the Beattie Government's controversial Vegetation Management Act.

After that date, all clearing permits for remnant vegetation will expire and so too, the opportunity to sell the carbon credits from that land.

Mr Devine said, "This is the open market working in its purest form - development versus conservation - and in these cases conservation has won on a direct commercial basis without the need for the unwanted government intervention and regulation that we have seen in the past."

"The challenge is understanding this is the sale of development rights, not the sale of the land or the use of that land."

"In some ways it is much like an easement. You can use the area but there is an agreement as to how you can use the area.

"There is still a long way to go but we have cleared the first hurdle of exposing vegetation management to commercial reality."

* More information: Website: www.mindingthecarbonstore.com

SOURCE: Queensland Country Life, November 16.

National Carbon Forum Canberra - 22-23 November 2006

In order to manage the carbon cycle and balance the greenhouse equation, there is a need to identify and reward management practices that both reduce emissions and sequester carbon. Carbon management is a potential engagement point for ALL landholders and all enterprises.

Carbon sequestration represents our greatest opportunity to reverse environmental degradation and regenerate the natural resource base, with multiple benefits including improvements in biodiversity, groundcover, water quality, productivity, erosion, nutrient, weed and salinity control and community and catchment health.

'Managing the Carbon Cycle'

Forum Chair - Professor Stuart Hill (Foundation Chair, Social Ecology, University of Western Sydney)

DAY ONE - WEDNESDAY 22 NOVEMBER
8.00am        Registration, tea and coffee
8.45 am       Dr Christine Jones 'Welcome'

Humus and hydrocarbons - finding pathways to sustainability
9.00 am       Andrew Jeeves (CEO, Earthlink Australia Pty Ltd)

Morning tea: 10.00 am - 10.45 am

Stewardship of natural resources - defining the debate
10.45 am     Hon. Tony Windsor (Federal Member for New England)

Clean Energy For Eternity
11.30 am     Dr Matthew Nott (Founder, Clean Energy For Eternity)

Lunch: 12.30 - 1.30 pm

Biofuels and carbon management
1.30 pm       Steven Hobbs (Principal, Yarrock Oils)

Afternoon tea: 2.30 - 3.00 pm

Carbon technology exporting - a big opportunity or a puff of smoke?
3.00 pm       Robert Sutton (National Manager, Agribusiness & Consumer, Austrade)

Carbon Coalition
4.00 pm       Michael and Louisa Kiely (Co-founders, Carbon Coalition Against Global Warming)
4.45 pm       CLOSE of Day One

FORUM DINNER  6.30 - 9.30 pm. Featuring Gordon Edmond's lively bush poetry, plus music and songs with a carbon theme - an entertaining evening guaranteed!!

DAY TWO - THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER
8.00 am       Tea and coffee
8.45 am       Gordon Edmonds - introduction to day two

Why some do and others don't
9.00 am       pennie scott (Principal, White Knuckle Marketing)

Organics and soil carbon
9.50 am       Andre Leu (Chair, Organic Federation of Australia)

Morning tea: 10.40 am - 11.15 am

Catching carbon, storing water
11.15 am     Dr Christine Jones (Founder, Carbon For Life Inc.)

Lunch: 12.05 - 1.30 pm

Biodynamics - farmers are the solution
1.30 pm       Hamish Mackay (Development Manager, Biodynamic Agriculture Australia)

Consciously creating
2.20 pm       Bronwyn Nicholas (Filmaker, Random Films P/L and Communicator, Bronwyn Nicholas P/L)

Forum conclusion
3.20 pm       Professor Stuart Hill (Foundation Chair, Social Ecology, University of Western Sydney)
4.00 pm       CLOSE

REGISTRATION:  Registration deadline 15 October 2006.
Visit  http://www.amazingcarbon.com/
or contact UNE Conference Company on (02) 6773 2154

VENUE: Best Western Function Centre, Central Motel, 11 Antill Street, Queanbeyan
(10 minutes from Canberra Airport).

ACCOMMODATION: The Central Motel are holding a limited number of rooms at a special price for registered delegates. Ph. (02) 6298 8988
or e-mail or visit www.centralmotel.com.au