Market Support
The Land Restoration Fund (LRF) market support program assists carbon and other environmental markets in Queensland by investing in research, development and capacity building projects. The LRF’s market support program is complementary, but separate to, its commercial (Land Restoration Fund Trust) investments. More information on the LRF’s commercial investments in carbon farming projects can be found on the LRF Register.
The Market Support program
Queensland’s large land mass, long coastlines and diverse ecology provide a natural advantage for carbon farming. The LRF funds market support activities that help Queensland landholders participate in carbon farming projects that restore land to:
- improve the health of wetlands and coastal ecosystems, including the Great Barrier Reef
- protect threatened species and ecosystems
- build social and economic sustainability for regional communities.
Market Support investments
The LRF market support program funds projects that promote innovation, and increase landholder participation, in carbon and other environmental markets.
- supporting the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network to lead key industry events and develop resources that help Indigenous organisations to participate in the carbon industry
- supporting Regen Farmers Mutual Limited to explore the potential for multi-property ‘landscape-scale’ projects in the Traprock Region through landholder education, outreach and upskilling
- partnering with NRM Regions Queensland and Queensland Farmers’ Federation to deliver carbon farming workshops and webinars to Queensland landholders and industry
- funding NRM Regions Queensland and Queensland Farmers’ Federation to deliver the Queensland Carbon Farming Community of Practice, where experts share knowledge and learnings around carbon projects with NRM and Landcare managers
- supporting landholders to access up to $10,000 worth of carbon farming advice tailored to their property and circumstances through the Carbon Farming Advice Scheme
- working with CSIRO to develop the LOOC-C tool to allow Queensland landholders to assess their property for co-benefits available through the LRF
- building a network of LRF Approved Advisers from a range of professions across Queensland that can support landholders with carbon farming advice
- funding the Carbon Market Institute to deliver training and capacity building within the finance and professional services sectors to support uptake of carbon farming in Queensland
- supporting the development and implementation of the Australian Carbon Industry Code of Conduct.
- supporting the development and piloting of a Cassowary Credits biodiversity credit scheme to facilitate investment in large-scale rainforest restoration in North Queensland
- funding innovative work by the University of Queensland to develop metrics to measure the condition of bird communities, with plans to extend the methodology to other fauna groups
- engaging brokers to commence delivery of the innovative Reef Credit Fund supporting the delivery of on-ground Reef Credit projects and stimulating the Reef Credit market, driving a market for farmers to reduce nutrient or sediment flowing to the Great Barrier Reef
- collaborating with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to encourage the uptake blue carbon projects in Great Barrier Reef catchments, including through development of a blue carbon guide for landholders
- working with Queensland Trust for Nature to trial approaches to integrate carbon farming into koala habitat restoration in Southeast Queensland
- supporting the development of new and improved carbon methods to increase opportunities to participate in the carbon market and ensure the integrity of carbon abatement claims
- supporting a trial blue carbon project in the Blue Heart Sunshine Coast, including key research to identify and measure carbon abatement and co-benefits through re-establishing blue carbon ecosystems.
- supporting Regen Farmers Mutual Limited to develop a Certification and Crediting Scheme for Box Gum Grassy Woodlands.
Carbon method development
The LRF supports the development of new carbon methods under the Australian Government’s ACCU Scheme that allow more Queensland landholders to participate in the carbon market.
The Queensland Government is leading the development of a new carbon farming method, called the Avoided Re-clearing and Native Reforestation Method. It is designed to replace and improve on the expired Avoided Clearing of Native Regrowth method, improving eligibility for landholders by taking a more practical approach to demonstrating risk of re-clearing and allowing complimentary reforestation activities to be delivered under a single project.
- identifying new carbon methods that provide opportunities for significant carbon abatement and co-benefits to contribute to the Queensland Government’s objectives for emissions reduction and land restoration
- participating in the co-design of new methods developed by the Australian Government (such as the first blue carbon method for Australia that was released in January 2022)
- participating in consultation on the review and re-make of existing methods by the Clean Energy Regulator, such as the re-made 2026 savanna fire management methods
- developing methods prioritised by the Australian Government for development under the proponent-led method development process (such as the Avoided Re-clearing and Native Reforestation method being developed by the LRF)
- supporting the development of new methods by others under the proponent-led method development process.