March saw WA Landcare Network host their first Regional Forum of 2021 in Cranbrook, facilitated by Freya Spencer and the team at Gillamii - The Gillamii Centre.
Fifty people participated in the Carbon Farming forum including Landcare facilitators, farmers and landholders, TAFE students, NRM groups, government officers, carbon industry representatives and interested members of the community.
Main presenter Jen West (Carbon West) provided an overview of the industry and answered a plethora of questions. Keith Bradbry (Gondwana Link), Dustin McCreery (Chatfields Nursery), and Justin Jonson (Threshold Environmental) presented different aspects of the Carbon picture including opportunities and issues to consider.
The day included a site visit to Wayne Pech’s farm which allowed participants to see and hear about the initial progress of a local carbon project with service providers Harley Lacy (Outback Carbon) and Dr Geoff Woodall on site. It was a memorable trip to the farm with a torrential downpour on route and a thunderstorm on arrival. Locals were excited to see the rain and it only increased the enjoyment.
Next steps identified included the need for a matrix of information on carbon industry service providers in WA as well as a summary of carbon footprint tools. The takeaway message for community landcare groups is that engagement in carbon farming can lead to a significant increase in the ability to get biodiversity plantings in the ground for multiple benefits.
Gillamii has shown the way facilitating involvement of seven farmers and partnering with Threshold Environmental to obtain quality biodiversity outcomes. More information and resources to support community landcare groups to help facilitate meaningful carbon farming projects is needed, this could be funded through arrangement with carbon service providers.
If you are interested in hosting or attending a carbon forum in your area or if you’d like to attend a follow-on workshop, contact the WA Landcare Network at enquiries@landcarewa.org.au.
This article was originally published in the May 2021 issue of Landcare in Focus.
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