Greg and Roseanne Standfield are graziers and carbon farmers in North West NSW, and they have been running Barcheka station for about 20 years. Since starting their carbon farming project five years ago they have a seen a number of changes in the land there, including more perennial grasses over annuals and more variety in species across the pasture land than before. Generally, better for their cattle and better for the land.
And of course there is the wildlife. And this is a pretty special example, a native marsupial Kultarr (Antechinomys laniger) complete with babies on her back. Rarely seen during the day these nocturnal creatures are listed as endangered in NSW. With habitat degradation and the intrusion of feral species like rabbits, cats and foxes, they have not had such a good time in recent history.
It’s likely that the Standfield’s carbon farming management practices, such as changing grazing rotations so that the cattle move around the property more frequently, have had a positive impact on the habitat favoured by small native species. By reducing grazing pressure on land they are encouraging greater regeneration of native vegetation. The result at Barcheka has been a new income for their family through the generation and sale of Australian Carbon Credit Units.
Climate Friendly, however, believes that the advantages of carbon farming go well beyond the reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to include ‘cobenefits’ like improved biodiversity, soil health and drought resilience. We are working with expert partners to build the science that quantifies just what those benefits might be, and to explore how landholders like the Standfield’s can be rewarded for more of the positives that result from carbon farming and good land stewardship.
(Photos courtesy of Greg and Roseanne Standfield)
