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NSW Climate and Energy Action
NSW Climate and Energy Action

Carbon on Country partnerships

Key information

  • Expressions of interest are now open for NSW Aboriginal organisations that want to own and manage a carbon project on their land.
  • Available funding: up to 90% of costs covered, with up to $250,000 of funding available per project.
  • Applications closed: 11:59 pm Thursday 24 October 2024.

Restore Country and earn carbon credits

Carbon projects are a great way to restore Country and bring back totemic species, medicinal plants and bush tucker. You can also receive payment by selling the carbon credits generated by your project.

We’re investing $2.5 million to provide opportunities for NSW Aboriginal organisations seeking to implement a carbon project that meets the needs of Country and community.  

Our team will support you to:

  • design, plan and implement an environmental planting project on Country
  • register your project to earn carbon credits. Participating Aboriginal organisations will have full ownership of the project and all earned carbon credits
  • access independent legal, financial and technical advice through a co-design process.

Funding overview

What’s on offer

We’re investing $2.5 million in partnerships through a competitive expression of interest (EOI).

We will fund up to 90% of carbon project implementation costs, with up to $250,000 of funding available per environmental planting project.  

Check your eligibility

We are looking for NSW Aboriginal organisations that:

  • are Local Aboriginal Land Councils, Registered Native Title Body Corporates, Traditional Owner groups, Aboriginal corporations or other recognised Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
  • own 5 to 200 hectares of land that has been clear of forest for at least 5 years and is suitable for a mixed species Environmental Planting project under the ACCU Scheme
  • are willing to plant a mix of native plants, including canopy trees, shrubs and understory plants, with the aim of restoring Country
  • can comply with all relevant insurance and financial requirements for the duration of the partnership
  • are willing to maintain the planting to ensure forest cover is established for at least 25 years.

Only NSW Aboriginal organisations that own the land that the project will take place on can apply. You must have the legal right to undertake an Environmental Plantings project and receive Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).  

How the partnerships will work

The Carbon on Country partnerships initiative has 3 key phases. 

Phase 1: Competitive expression of interest (EOI)

Check you meet the above eligibility criteria, develop and submit your EOI. Contact our team if you want mapping assistance or help estimating plant costs.  

Phase 2: Co-design of carbon project

If your competitive EOI is successful, we will work in partnership with you to ensure your project is developed in line with the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent and meets the needs of your community, organisation and Country. We will provide access to independent financial and legal advice, technical expertise and community engagement support (if required).  We will work through the steps required to design your carbon project and support you to develop a detailed planting plan and implementation budget. We will also support you to register your project as an Environmental Plantings project under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme.  

Participants will be invited to join a monthly Community of Practice forum to share progress with other participants.  

Phase 3: Implementation of carbon project

Approved projects will become eligible for implementation funding once registration is approved by the Clean Energy Regulator. We will continue to work with Carbon on Country partners for up to 2 years from the commencement of implementation funding. Ownership of the carbon project and any carbon credits generated will remain the property of the Aboriginal organisation. 

Before you apply

Before you consider applying, please review our:

Contact us

If you have any questions about this grant, or if you need help deciding if your land is suitable for an Environmental Planting project, please email us at [email protected].