This really interesting project was brought to my attention by Ian Noble at the JSPS Symposium on “Climate Change.” Thanks, Ian, for a very good presentation on “Land and Our Responses to Climate Change.” -HGK
Preserving biodiversity and habitat
The Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) allows farmers and land managers in Australia to earn carbon credits by storing carbon or reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the land. These credits can then be sold to people and businesses wishing to offset their emissions.
The CFI also helps the environment by encouraging sustainable farming and providing a source of funding for landscape restoration projects.
The CFI is a carbon offsets scheme that is part of Australia’s carbon market. Legislation to underpin the CFI was passed by Parliament on 23 August 2011.
One of the participants is Henbury Station, a spectacular property in Australia’s arid Red Centre. It covers more than 500,000 hectares (5,000 square kilometres) to the south of Alice Springs, extending from the spectacular MacDonnell Ranges across the vast, open red plains of the diverse Finke bioregion. While Henbury has previously operated as a cattle station, 70 per cent of the huge property remains largely in its natural condition.
The $13 million property was purchased by R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings in 2011 with the support of the Australian Government through its Caring for our Country initiative. It is the largest property ever purchased for the National Reserve System with Australian Government support.