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Carbon sequestration

Carbon sequestration is the process of removal and storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in natural carbon sinks (such as vegetation, soils or oceans), geological formations (such as carbon capture and storage projects in the oil and gas sector), or through technologies such as direct air capture.

Natural carbon sequestration

Sustainable land and water management practices are a key way to encourage carbon sequestration. In South Australia, such practices include:

revegetation of cleared land with environmental plantings to provide ecosystem services such as biodiversity, soil protection and reduced salinity
encouraging the use of woody crops in plantation forestry and farming landscapes (e.g., farm forestry and shelter belts)
managing annual cropping and grazing practices in ways which retain more carbon in soil
regenerating native vegetation in conservation areas, farms and pastoral regions and coastal environments.

Carbon offsets

Under the Australian Government’s Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme (ACCU Scheme) (formerly known as the Emissions Reduction Fund), administered by the Clean Energy Regulator, certain carbon sequestration projects can create accredited carbon credits which can be used to offset greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon credits can also be sold to buyers seeking to offset their carbon emissions, creating revenue for the seller. Projects that sequester carbon can also:

create new jobs and additional investment in regional communities
improve farm productivity by changing land management practices
generate environmental and social co-benefits.

Carbon farming projects

Landholders and other project proponents can apply to the Clean Energy Regulator to register carbon farming projects under the ACCU Scheme. The types of carbon farming projects include: increasing soil carbon storage, reducing livestock emissions, planting of native forests, reforestation and tidal restoration (blue carbon projects).

Contact the Australian Government for guidance on how to undertake a carbon farming project.

Carbon Farming Roadmap

The South Australian Government has released a Carbon Farming Roadmap aiming to unlock opportunities and increase participation in carbon farming projects in South Australia.

The Roadmap will guide government and the private sector in South Australia as they work together to raise awareness of carbon farming, address risks and challenges, develop knowledge and skills, and take advantage of this new and evolving industry.

Information on carbon farming for primary producers is available from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions.

Contact the Department for Primary Industries and Regions for more information at SA.CarbonFarmingRoadmap@sa.gov.au

Eligible interest-holder consent requirements for carbon farming projects on Crown land

For any carbon farming project that is located on Crown land in South Australia, the project proponent needs to seek consent from the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water, as an eligible interest-holder of the land under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011. Consent is provided subject to the leaseholder or project proponent entering into a Deed of Indemnity with the Minister, which sets out the terms and conditions for undertaking a carbon farming project on Crown lands.

If consent is provided, and eligible interest-holder consent form will need to be submitted to the Clean Energy Regulator. Information on the process to apply This will involve submitting an Eligible Interest Holder consent form to the Clean Energy Regulator. Information on the process to apply to participate in the ACCU Scheme, including information on obtaining applicable regulatory approvals, is provided by the Clean Energy REgulator.

The Department for Environment and Water can assist you with applications for the Minister’s eligible interest-holder consent. Contact the Department for Environment and Water for more information at DEW.ClimateChange@sa.gov.au

Carbon farming projects on pastoral leases

For South Australian pastoralists wanting to undertake a carbon farming project on their pastoral lease, approval may need to be sought under the Pastoral Land Management and Conservation Act 1989, and requires the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water’s eligible interest-holder consent (as described above).

Interested parties should note that the Human Induced Regeneration ACCU Scheme method has expired and no new projects can be registered under this method. Information on how existing ACCU Scheme projects may be impacted by the expiry of a method is provided by the Clean Energy Regulator.

Contact the Pastoral Unit of the Department for Environment and Water for more information about carbon farming projects on pastoral leases, including seeking necessary approvals at DEW.Pastoral@sa.gov.au.

Carbon Planting Guidelines

The Carbon Planting Guidelines package contains a range of spatial data layers, summary maps and reports to assist South Australian landholders, industry groups, organisations and individuals to understand the potential environmental risks and opportunities of carbon planting in South Australia. The information products provide context to landscape-scale planning and are not intended for use at the local or property-scale.