Carbon farming as a solution for the land, the environment and future generations

Carbon farming is a benefit, not a threat

One method of carbon farming involves planting native vegetation to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. But this is not about buying up and indiscriminately planting trees across all available land, especially prime agricultural land. Responsible carbon farming focuses on areas that are either unproductive or marginally productive, offering a way to revitalise land that is no longer providing significant returns. This strategy benefits the land, farmers and local communities by improving soil health, reducing erosion and boosting biodiversity.

For farmers, carbon farming can provide additional income from carbon credits, which are generated by the growth of these plants. These projects also help preserve native ecosystems, which can directly enhance the health of surrounding agricultural land. For instance, the use of shelter belts or planting along the edges of paddocks helps protect crops from wind erosion, reduces water evaporation and creates habitat for pollinators, all of which can improve overall farm productivity. Studies, such as one by UniSA scientists, show that pollination rates increase in areas near native vegetation, resulting in higher crop yields.

It is a misconception that carbon farming takes over productive land

A significant point of contention lies in the belief that carbon farming will take over valuable agricultural land, reducing farmers’ ability to produce food or crops. This concern is understandable, but it is based on a misunderstanding of how carbon farming works. Nativ Carbon’s approach ensures that only land unsuitable for farming—whether because it’s less productive or difficult to manage—is targeted for carbon farming projects.

Moreover, carbon farming is not about wholesale land conversion. Instead, it’s about strategic, carefully planned projects that complement existing agricultural systems. For example, belt planting (where trees are planted in narrow strips or along field boundaries) can help with erosion control and improve overall soil health without disrupting core farming activities. In this way, farmers can continue their day-to-day operations while also contributing to carbon sequestration and ecological conservation.

Looking beyond greenwashing to real carbon offset projects and their benefits

The rise of carbon farming has also led to concerns about the credibility of some claims regarding environmental contributions. Unfortunately, the carbon farming industry is not immune to this risk. Greenwashing can occur when companies claim to offset their carbon emissions through carbon credits, but the projects they support lack transparency or proper oversight. This may involve practices where projects are poorly managed or carbon credits generated without proper monitoring or auditing.

Nativ Carbon’s approach to carbon farming is rooted in transparency, accountability and rigorous monitoring to ensure that every project delivers genuine environmental and economic benefits. Our method of environmental planting—using native vegetation in areas that were previously unproductive or degraded—provides clear, measurable results. This process has unimpeachable additionality: where there was nothing, there is now something, and that something is biodiverse and sustainable. The carbon sequestered by these projects is easily verifiable through baseline monitoring and ongoing audits conducted by accredited bodies like the Clean Energy Regulator.

The role of accountability in successful carbon farming

To ensure that carbon offset projects are more than just empty promises, it’s essential for companies involved in carbon farming to have real accountability and ‘skin in the game’. Many carbon offset programs involve large corporations donating money to third-party initiatives, but these companies may not follow through on ensuring the projects meet their intended goals. This can lead to projects that fail to deliver, contributing little to carbon sequestration and potentially doing more harm than good.

At Nativ Carbon, we focus on long-term, sustained commitment to each project. We work with tier-one companies who are directly involved in the development and execution of carbon farming projects. This commitment ensures that the projects are thoroughly monitored from start to finish, with regular assessments of the plants’ survival rates, canopy coverage, and carbon sequestration. If necessary, additional infill planting is done to ensure that the project meets its carbon credit targets.

Furthermore, these projects are audited at regular intervals, typically every three years, to ensure they are performing as expected and providing the promised environmental benefits. This level of oversight is a key differentiator between NC’s carbon farming efforts and those that may be seen as greenwashing.

An economically and ecologically sustainable solution

As the world continues to face the challenges of climate change, carbon farming has the potential to play a crucial role in both environmental and agricultural resilience. By focusing on unproductive land and using transparent, accountable practices, carbon farming can provide long-term benefits for farmers, landowners and communities. Rather than viewing it as a threat, farmers and local governments should view carbon farming as a valuable tool for improving land health, increasing crop yields, and contributing to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The key to successful carbon farming is collaboration—farmers, local governments and carbon developers working together to identify areas that can benefit from environmental planting while also ensuring that the projects are economically beneficial in the long run. In this way, carbon farming can become a win-win solution: revitalising land, supporting biodiversity and creating sustainable income streams for the farming community, all while contributing to global climate management initiatives.