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Over 58% of the continent is dedicated to agriculture and around 50% of threatened species are found on private land. In contrast, only 22% of the continent is made up of protected areas. If we want to fulfill our purpose of returning the bush to good health, we recognise that we have to go beyond our reserve boundaries. Sustainable farming practices are a necessary solution to the biodiversity crisis.
We’re working across 10 million hectares of agricultural land to bring our national scientific expertise to farmers and large-scale landholders.
We have the tools to provide a holistic view of the land they manage and support them to develop plans to protect the ecological values of their land. To do this we've developed a four-phase framework that can be applied to our partners with small-scale family farms or large-scale pastoral properties.
Our team of ecologists and data scientists analyse and map the natural values on each property and verify findings with on-ground surveys.
To understand what condition the natural values are in. Working with partners across the continent, we’ve developed innovative technology to provide them with a wealth of data across 4 million hectares.
We co-develop projects to enhance those natural values. We look at direct actions such as threat management to protect threatened species, or landscape rehydration and restoration techniques.
We make sure the implemented actions are improving outcomes on the land.
“No two farms are the same, but we have a framework that supports everyone and can be extended to specific landscape contexts.”
To help build sustainable outcomes and diversify our income streams, our work with natural capital in agriculture is fully funded by contributions from the farmers, partners, corporations, governments and landholders with whom we work.
Such as preparing accounts of natural capital and advising on fire, weed and feral predator management.
Using our experience to help landholders explore biodiverse carbon capture opportunities.
Supporting the development of natural products (e.g. sustainable seed harvesting) that could diversify revenue to invest in conservation.
The Tasmanian Midlands are home to some of the most threatened ecosystems in the world - temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands. In collaboration with the Tasmanian Land Conservancy we’ve been working with farmers in the midlands for over 10 years, using a fund that provides stewardship payments to farmers in return for conserving biodiversity.
In partnership with Climate Friendly, we’ve developed a way of using satellite and drone images with other field data to measure the condition of vegetation. It's been accredited by Accounting for Nature. We apply this on farms to produce evidence for agricultural impact investors and to certify biodiverse carbon capture.
We’re in the process of expanding the method to monitor vegetation on large rangeland properties with carbon projects (>10,000 ha).
We use learnings from restoration work and carbon trade projects on our reserves to advise other local projects.
Native Bluegrass grasslands at Carnarvon Reserve in Queensland occupy under 600 ha but provide crucial habitat. We're harvesting Bluegrass seed to sell to local landowners, graziers and mines undertaking offset work. This creates a sustainable, minimal-impact income stream for Carnarvon Reserve and more healthy native grasslands.
