Carbon farming on the rise

Local grazier David Fisher with carbon farming expert John Connor. Photo supplied

Carbon farming is rapidly increasing in the Bourke and Cobar areas, with 95 projects registered in Bourke and 45 in Cobar, a total of 140 projects.

In 2014 there were only 24 projects farming in a manner that reduces greenhouse gasses and holding carbon in vegetation and soils.

Carbon Farming industry expert John Connor visited Bourke last week, to see one of the local carbon farming success stories at Brindingabba Station.

Mr Connor, who is CEO of the Carbon Market Institute (CMI) said carbon farming is a growing industry, thriving around Bourke and Cobar. This region has become a national leader for carbon farming which is good for jobs, rural communities and the environment.

David and Kylie Fisher of “Brindingabba Station” 160km north west of Bourke, have lived and worked the station since 1998 and have been carbon farming for about 5 years.

The Fisher family have been in the district for 35 years, and when they first moved onto the property twenty-two years ago, the country was scaled and eroded.

“It was a harsh environment to make a living from. The topsoil was diminished, and the land was not as productive as it could have been,” David says.

“I don’t think we’d still be here if it wasn’t for carbon farming”.

“The additional, steady income has relieved a lot of personal stress for us, brought on by the drought and other factors. It’s got us through some really dry years.

“The carbon farming experience for us, on this property, has been enormous.

“By encouraging tree growth on the landscape, it encouraged biomass to collect on the ground, which in turn collects topsoil and encourages healthy pasture growth.

“The best thing about carbon farming, is you can still operate your usual stock practices on a rotational basis.

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