Pioneering ‘herd aggregation’ project allows smaller graziers to earn carbon credits for the first time

February 3, 2020 · No Comments

Pioneering ‘herd aggregation’ project allows smaller graziers to earn carbon credits for the first time


● Innovative ‘herd aggregation’ project breaks down cost barriers to Australian carbon market entry, allowing smaller graziers to generate carbon credits for the first time
● The project will be submitted to the 2020 Investment Round of the Queensland Government’s new Land Restoration Fund, which opened yesterday, 28 January
● Natural Carbon is calling for expressions of interest from graziers with 1000+ head of cattle who would like to participate in the aggregation project to earn carbon credits


29 January 2020, Brisbane, Queensland – Carbon project developer, Natural Carbon is partnering with cattle station operator, Paraway Pastoral Company , and the carbon market specialists at Corporate Carbon on a national ‘herd aggregation’ project – giving smaller graziers a first opportunity to participate in the Australian carbon market.
Spearheaded by Paraway with two cattle herds at its Rocklands and Tanbar properties, the pioneering project groups together smaller herds of 1000+ animals nationwide, with a focus on western Queensland.
The ‘herd aggregation’ project pools administrative and compliance fees, lowering the cost of carbon market participation and allowing smaller graziers to collectively benefit from the sale of carbon credits generated by the beef cattle herd management method – an Australian carbon farming method previously only applicable to herds of over 50,000 heads.
The innovative project was recognised for its efforts to make the herd management method more accessible to smaller operators last year, collaborating with Southern Gulf NRM to receive a pilot grant from the Queensland Government’s new $500 million Land Restoration Fund. The
herd aggregation project will also apply for the Fund’s 2020 Investment Round that opened yesterday, 28 January.
Natural Carbon is now calling for expressions of interest from smaller graziers that would like to participate in the herd aggregation project and earn carbon credits.


Julien Gastaldi, General Manager at Natural Carbon , said that the herd aggregation project was exactly the kind of innovation the state government hopes to support with the Land Restoration Fund, which aims to expand carbon farming throughout Queensland to drive down emissions, “ Making the carbon market accessible to players of all sizes is essential in reducing emissions and ensuring a prosperous future for Queensland’s agricultural and farming community. ”


Paul McDougall, Sustainability Manager at Paraway Pastoral said that his company was happy to contribute two herds to the project, which he describes as a win-win situation, “ We saw this as a great opportunity to enable smaller producers to be credited for reducing the emissions
intensity of their herds, while we benefit from improved productivity and generate carbon credits.”


Gary Wyatt, Director at Corporate Carbon commended the pastoral company’s far-sighted leadership, “ By establishing this aggregation project, Paraway has created a pathway for producers with small herds to realise the benefits of carbon farming, cutting the cost of participation for a smaller producer by as much as 80%. ”


As well as making carbon market accessible to smaller operators, the project also demonstrates how the herd management method aligns with the many other social, economic and local environmental benefits that the Land Restoration Fund is focused on.
Operators with cattle herds of at least 1000 head that would like to participate in the herd aggregation project can click here to register their interest, or call or email Natural Carbon’s Julien Gastaldi on 0479 043 903 / julien.gastaldi@naturalcarbon.com.au .
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Notes to the editor on beef cattle herd management method:
● The ‘ beef cattle herd management ’ method is a method of carbon abatement under the Australian Government’s Climate Solutions Fund (formerly Emissions Reduction Fund – ERF) that generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by reducing the emissions intensity of pasture-fed cattle.
● Practices commonly employed by herd management projects include lowering the average age of animals, improving genetics, new infrastructure (water/fencing), or software (such as MaiaGrazing ) to enable more efficient grazing operations, planting improved pastures, improving herd genetics, etc.
● These are all well-known techniques and activities that the cattle grazing industry is keen to implement wherever it can, but also have the side benefit of reducing emissions per kilogram of live weight produced.


Contact:
Julien Gastaldi, General Manager, Natural Carbon
julien.gastaldi@naturalcarbon.com.au
+61 479 043 903


About Natural Carbon
Natural Carbon develops carbon farming projects in Australia and brings together global experience and expertise across the full carbon project cycle – from concept to sales, to provide a one stop shop for entities seeking to generate alternative revenue streams in a climate friendly way. The company works with indigenous groups, farmers, and other land managers to achieve long-term economic and environmental benefits to their communities, as well as with leading organisations ready to reduce their environmental impact.


About Paraway Pastoral
Paraway currently operates 27 pastoral enterprises across a number of diversified climatic zones and a range of country types. The company divides its operations into four regions: Northern (consisting of properties in Queensland), Central East (with properties in the New England), Central West (with properties in Western NSW) and Southern (including Southern NSW and Victoria). Collectively the properties have the capacity to carry over 220,000 cattle and 250,000 sheep. Dryland and irrigated cropping exists in each of the regions for the production of hay, silage and grain crops for external sales and feeding livestock.


About Corporate Carbon
Corporate Carbon is an experienced one stop shop for carbon: from credit creation to sale. We enable companies to monetise carbon abatement activities and secure viable returns in the Australian market. We have developed a range of solutions to facilitate participation in the ERF
and are working with many of Australia’s leading emissions reduction project developers and owners.

Natural Carbon celebrates issuance of one millionth ACCU

August 15, 2019 · No Comments

Australian carbon farming project developer, Natural Carbon, is celebrating the issuance of its millionth ACCU since it began assisting landholders with carbon reduction projects in 2014.

The milestone was reached at the end of the 2019 financial year following the issuance of savanna credits relating to the 2018 fire season. It’s a figure that will continue to grow by around 300,000 ACCUs annually, as Natural Carbon continues working with communities and landholders to reduce emissions and deliver returns to land owners.

“Natural Carbon is proud to unlock sustainable agriculture and reduce emissions through sustainable land management, with benefits for Indigenous prosperity, food security and resilient communities,” said Julien Gastaldi, general manager at Natural Carbon.

Gastaldi added that the company looks forward to contributing to the Queensland Government’s Land Restoration Fund, and will continue working with project owners to generate ACCUs following the Australian Government’s announcement of an additional $2 billion for carbon abatement under the Climate Solutions Fund earlier this year.

Natural Carbon currently assists 18 carbon projects in the Northern Territory and Queensland; 12 are currently generating ACCUs, and a further six are under development. Together, these projects cover one million heads of cattle and 20 million hectares of land in an area roughly the size of Victoria.

Clean Energy Regulator releases new savanna burning methods

May 15, 2018 · No Comments

Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator released the new methods for generating carbon credits from savanna burning projects on Wednesday 8 May.

The new methods will allow project developers to earn offsets for carbon sequestration as well as emissions avoidance.

The changes to the savanna burning methods were developed after research revealed that savanna fire management, which consists of early prescribed burns to prevent late dry season wildfires, significantly increases the amount of carbon store in the landscape in the form of live and dead woody biomass.

The new methods allow existing and aspiring developers to incorporate this sequestration potential into their savanna burning projects, but first require them to acquire prior and informed consent from eligible interest holders and implement fire management plans that were not previously mandatory.

Developers must also choose either a 25-year permanence period, subject to a “risk of reversal” holding tax of 25%, or a 100-year permanence period, with a substantially lower tax rate of 5%.

The changes to the savanna burning legislation were officially announced by Federal Minister for Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, on Tuesday 1 May.

A Department spokesperson said that while not all parties would be satisfied, the new methods were, “a substantial step forward, strengthening the foundation for the methods while providing an avenue for ongoing improvements.”

Previous to the new methods, developers of savanna burning projects could only earn credits from carbon emissions avoidance.

Existing developers who do not wish to move their projects to the 2018 savanna method may continue their projects until the end of the crediting period.

You can read the full details of the new savanna burning methods on the Clean Energy Regulator website. For more information on the new methods and what they mean for your projects, contact us.

Natural Carbon to sponsor three traditional owners to the Darwin Fire Forum

February 23, 2018 · No Comments

The Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, together with government and industry partners, is putting together the first national Savanna Fire and Carbon forum, focused on supporting operational best-practice and the cohesive development of the Savanna fire and carbon industry. This forum aims to focus on the sharing of experiences from across northern Australia and identifying critical issues for the future of the industry.

 

Natural Carbon has been managing successful savanna burning projects since 2014, and will attend the event with three traditional owners from Batavia & Kalpowar, involved in Natural Carbon projects on Cape York Peninsula. Both of these projects are on returned Aboriginal land as part of the recent Cape York Peninsula tenure resolution process. Ongoing carbon revenue from the cool burning of savanna in the dry season is enabling traditional owners to get back on country and participate in an emerging economy. The three owners will share learnings with other fire practitioners from northern Australia so that their projects can continue to provide economic benefits independent of government grants.

 

The topics to be covered in the two day Darwin Forum on 27-28 Feb 2018 include:

 

  • Best Practice in Fire Management
  • Emissions Reduction Fund methods and the forward pathway
  • Monitoring and Evaluation
  • Tools and Training
  • Industry Development

 

Natural Carbon attends the event as a leading provider of carbon farming and savannah burning projects in Australia and will present insights during the discussion of “Best Practice in Fire Management”. For more information about the event, visit the Centre for Bushfire Research.

 

 

Natural Carbon oversees first cattle herd management project in Australia as the red meat industry sets a carbon neutral target

November 23, 2017 · No Comments

Natural Carbon has facilitated the delivery of more than 20,000/yr Australian Carbon Credits (ACCUs) to a progressive Australian beef company, creating added revenue and reducing their emissions intensity. The achievement reflects a growing momentum towards stronger climate action as Meat and Livestock Australia announce today that the Australian red meat industry will be carbon neutral by 2030.

– –

Wednesday 22 nd November, Sydney, Australia

Wednesday 22nd November, Sydney, Australia – In a world first it is now possible to earn an income from carbon through cattle herd management by engaging in with leading Australian carbon farming solutions provider Natural Carbon. By facilitating the delivery of over 20,000/yr Australian Carbon Credits (ACCUs) Natural Carbon has helped creating new revenue for farmers and reduce emissions intensity.

This achievement will be the first of many as the industry’s momentum grows towards stronger climate action, and comes back to back with today’s announcement by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) that the Australian red meat industry will work with federal and state governments to be carbon neutral by 2030.

This industry-wide target for carbon neutrality is a timely development. Since 2014, Natural Carbon has established itself as a leading carbon organisation in Australia with a portfolio of 14 carbon projects that have collectively generated over 550,000 ACCUs. Natural Carbon is on track to engage 10% of Australia’s cattle herd industry in 30 beef cattle herd management carbon abatement projects by 2025. The implementation of the Emissions Reduction Fund Beef Methodology ( ERF Beef Method ) will likely result in a reduction of emissions intensity by more than 20%, and remove more than 5 million tonnes of harmful greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Good data will also be key to timely reporting and payments. To make it easier for all to participate, Natural Carbon is working with its livestock and grazing technology partner Maia Technology to ensure the ERF Beef Method is integrated into their existing world class grazing management application ‘MaiaGrazing’.

“Carbon neutrality is the only logical goal in the long term – but it is a long and hard way to get there for any industry,” says Julien Gastaldi, General Manager of Natural Carbon. “The Emissions Reduction Fund lets us work with farmers’ strengths and their ability to adapt their pastoral enterprise to what is, at times, a harsh and unforgiving country for livestock production. With the MLA announcement, we are thrilled to see that the ambition to punch above our carbon-weight is still alive and well. Natural Carbon looks forward to working with MLA on demonstrating the links between productivity gains and income from the growing carbon markets .”

All pastoral companies can earn ACCUs and supplementary income by applying the ERF Beef Method. To register a project with the Clean Energy Regulator contact

julien.gastaldi@naturalcarbon.com.au .

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Note to editors

The Clean Energy Regulator is the Government body responsible for administering legislation that will reduce carbon emissions and increase the use of clean energy. An ACCU is a unit issued to a person by the Clean Energy Regulator by making an entry for the unit in an account kept by the person in the electronic Australian National Registry of Emissions Units. Each ACCU issued represents one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e) stored or avoided by a project.

About Natural Carbon

Natural Carbon Pty is a joint venture established in 2014 with a focus on developing carbon projects in northern Australia. (Phillip Toyne, indigenous advocate, co-founder of the national Landcare program and founding Director of EcoFutures, was instrumental in the formation of Natural Carbon.) Since 2014, Natural Carbon has established itself as a leading organisation supporting Pastoral and Aboriginal carbon farming through Savanna Burning, Beef Cattle herd Management and Revegetation projects. Natural Carbon brings together global experience and expertise across the full carbon project cycle – from concept to sales, providing a one stop shop for entities seeking to generate revenue from carbon. The company works with indigenous groups, farmers, and other land managers to achieve long-term economic and environmental benefits to their communities.

For additional information, please contact:

Business Enquiries

Julien Gastaldi

General Manager

julien.gastaldi@naturalcarbon.com.au

Media Enquiries

Lily Keenan

Junior Communications Specialist, South Pole Group

l.keenan@southpole.com

 

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Hire of seasoned expert Julien Gastaldi reflects period of growth for Natural Carbon

May 2, 2017 · No Comments

Sydney, Australia, 1 May, 2017 – Natural Carbon is proud to announce the key addition of Julien Gastaldi as its newly appointed General Manager.

Natural Carbon started in 2014 as the nexus of five unique partners with a focus on developing carbon farming projects in Australia. Climate Friendly, South Pole Group, McCullough Robertson, EcoFutures and Object Consulting combined their global experience and expertise across multiple sectors to provide comprehensive climate solution services to rural and indigenous Australian communities. Since then, Natural Carbon has built an impressive portfolio, managing over 1% of Australian landmass across 15 projects that will generate three million carbon abatement credits over the next 10 years. The evolution of Natural Carbon is a true growth story, affirmed by a commitment to develop another 5MT worth of projects in the next 18 months. This will be achieved thanks to the new sequestration opportunities, and facilitating participation via their Northern Savanna aggregation project. Natural Carbon is at the forefront of the transition towards “Net Zero Carbon by 2050”. The profit-for-purpose company helps landowners, pastoralists, and indigenous groups deliver projects locally on their land, that together add up to meaningful change – at scale.

“Natural Carbon was established to meet the growing demand we saw for sustainable carbon revenue opportunities in the Australian agriculture and land management sectors,” says Peter Richardson, Director of Natural Carbon and Manager of New Ventures at Object Consulting. “As a pioneering company in this area, we have ridden a wave of unprecedented growth by tailoring comprehensive projects that provide carbon solutions, with a particular focus on delivering new revenue streams for indigenous communities.”

As Natural Carbon’s portfolio expands, it could not be a more timely moment to add a seasoned expert to the Sydney-based team. With 10 years of experience in business management and environmental consultancy, including indigenous community development in the South Pacific, Julien Gastaldi is key addition to guide Natural Carbon through this period of great transition and growth. As General Manager, Julien will provide valuable expertise for the continued development of economically and environmentally beneficial climate adaptation solutions in farming communities. Julien is one of Australia’s leading experts in carbon emissions and waste management. Prior to joining Natural Carbon, he worked as an executive for MRA Consulting Group, responsible for a broad range of environmental projects and the growth of the company Australia-wide. He is also the current Chair of the NSW Carbon Committee of the Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA) and Deputy Chair of the WMAA National Carbon Committee. Julien brings to the role extensive industry insight, technical expertise, and a passion for community development and climate change adaptation.

“Julien’s hire is a milestone for Natural Carbon, reflecting the significant growth the company has experienced in recent years” says Josh Harris, General Manager for Climate Friendly. “With such a strong background in environmental and community development, we expect that his leadership will further cement Natural Carbon as a leading provider of co-beneficial carbon solutions in Australia.”

“Joining Natural Carbon a logical step forwards for me, and an ideal opportunity to bring together my experience with indigenous communities and knowledge of how to drive climate change mitigation and adaptation across an industry,” says Julien Gastaldi, General Manager, Natural Carbon. “I look forward to guiding the company towards an even more impactful purpose.”

Natural Carbon has emerged as a leading carbon farming project provider to rural and indigenous communities in Australia. The inclusion of Julien is in line with the company’s mission to provide a full suite of solutions across the carbon project cycle to entities seeking to generate revenue in a sustainable way.

Media Contacts:

Josh Harris, General Manager, Climate Friendly
josh.harris@climatefriendly.com

Julien Gastaldi, General Manager, Natural Carbon
julien.gastaldi@naturalcarbon.com.au

Media Release: Natural Carbon’s clients maintain 100% success rate with carbon abatement contracts for Savannah Burning and Human Induced Regeneration projects

November 23, 2015 · No Comments

Melbourne, 23 November 2015 — Following the Commonwealth Government’s $2.5 billion Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) 2nd auction, Natural Carbon’s clients have been awarded a further nine carbon abatement contracts maintaining their 100% success rate at ERF auctions for carbon credits. Projects include:

  • Five new savannah burning projects delivering over 1.3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas abatement over 10 years on 43,000 km2 of land between Kununurra WA, Katherine NT and Lockhart QLD
  • Four new regeneration projects delivering one million tonnes of greenhouse gas abatement over 10 years on 2,000 km2 of land clustered around Cunnamulla in Southern QLD

The total Natural Carbon portfolio is now 11 projects covering 58,500 km2 of land generating three million carbon abatement credits over 10 years including three major indigenous savannah projects. This equates to nearly 1% of Australia’s land mass and an area almost equivalent to Tasmania.

Batavia Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (BTOAC) Savannah Burning Project

“The carbon project will support rangers to burn country early in the dry season and control wildfire in the late dry season that come before the storms,” said the directors of the Traditional Owners of Batavia Downs. BTOAC have been undertaking early dry season burns for several years to protect their ecosystem and to reduce the risk of wildfire on their freehold land and the Batavia Nature Reserve.

Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) Savannah Burning Project

“CPC has nine properties included within the CPC savannah burning project and we are managing wildfire with prescribed early season burning not only to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but to protect pasture, cattle, fencing and other infrastructure vital to cattle production” said Tracey King, CPC Commercial Manager.

CPC is a major landholder across the tropical savannah belt from WA to the QLD Cape.

***

Natural Carbon is currently welcoming expressions of interest from landholders for a free carbon assessment on their property utilising the Vegetation Management (savannah burning) and Agriculture (herd management and feeding nitrates) carbon abatement methodologies.

***

About Natural Carbon

Natural Carbon develops carbon farming projects in Australia. Established in 2014, Natural Carbon Pty Ltd is a joint venture of McCullough Robertson Lawyers, Object Consulting, Climate Friendly and South Pole Group. Natural Carbon brings together global experience and expertise across the full carbon project cycle – from concept to sales, providing a one stop shop for entities seeking to generate alternative revenue streams in a climate friendly way. The company works with indigenous groups, farmers, and other land managers to achieve long-term economic and environmental benefits to their communities.

For additional information, please contact:

Julien Gastaldi, General Manager, Natural Carbon

m: 0479 043 903 |   e: julien.gastaldi@naturalcarbon.com.au 

Related images

Media-Release-Thumbs

  1. Natural Carbon Savannah Burning Projects (Map Source: Google Maps)
  2. Batavia Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Fire Management (Photo Credit: Lana Polglase)
  3. Batavia Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Fire Management Crew at work (Photo Credit: Lana Polglase)

Carbon Solutions for Landowners

September 16, 2015 · No Comments

Savanna wildfires release methane and nitrous oxide which are potent greenhouse gases. Controlled early dry season savanna burning reduces the severity of savanna wildfire in the late dry season. These projects can generate carbon credits and significant local benefits under Federal Government programs.

Read more: Carbon Solutions for Landowners (PDF)

Olkola Ajin 2014 Savannah burning project successfully completed

August 11, 2015 · No Comments

The Olkola Ajin Savannah Burning Project provides a long-term investment stream into this remote Aboriginal community, creating local employment for traditional owner rangers to complement existing or potential government investments. The project has a positive impact on the climate reducing up to 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year across an area of about 8,000 square kilometres.  Burning in 2014 has been successfully completed and will continue to be an annual activity.

Read the full  story  here – Olkola-20150813

Fairtrade Australia New Zealand’s Reflections on the Legacy of Phillip Toyne

July 20, 2015 · No Comments

Phillip Toyne Memorial Canberra July 17

Thursday 16 July, 2015 – Fairtrade Board Member, Kim McKay AO, shares her reflections on the late Phillip Toyne, AO.

One of Fairtrade Australia New Zealand’s most ardent and respected supporters, former Board Member, Phillip Toyne AO, passed away last month, aged 67 years.

Read more