Innovative carbon workshop in SA
A lot of people are trying to work out how to test feasibility for carbon projects on their land: some are advertising for consultants, some are undertaking some training and some are just getting on with it.
But last week, we were invited to a workshop put together by the Alinytjara Wilurara NRM region and the SA Government with a difference: they invited a whole lot of experts with something to add to their carbon and land management puzzle in the Alinytjara Wilurara arid lands of western SA. A great way to gather ideas from an array of different experts and also a chance for those experts to cross-fertilise each other. Very impressive.
A few things struck me from the workshop. “Market fundamentals are strong” said one – meaning that while the politics continue to be uncertain, climate change is not going away and some kind of policies on carbon will stay. Do we need to worry as much about government policy of the day? “Integrated project approach” said another – is there carbon in our plan? Rather than the other way around. Carbon and other kinds of land management can complement each other. “Specialty market” invited another – perhaps Aboriginal carbon need not be a follower like in a commodity market but proactively market itself as a specialty product with its own price. These are pretty handy ideas for anyone thinking about their land and carbon.
And the innovative workshop approach is food for thought for others considering what to do.
